Some mods, ok to drive without a tune?

spetz · Post by **spetz** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 12:59 am

I am having my engine rebuilt
And it's getting some mods done to it:

Ported & polished head
RPW extractors, high flow cat, 2.5" exhaust
Ported intake manifold and maybe the RPW intake manifold
TB and Intake manifold insulator blocks
FSE FPR
Now because I wanna run it in before tuning it, is it safe to drive it without a tune for 2000km or so? And just raise the fuel pressure?

Post by **Bennoz** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 8:50 am

Just be nice to it - I wouldn't raise the fuel pressure, just make sure its not pinging its tits off or you'll destroy your nice new head gaskets. 2000kms is ample, in fact modern motors these days 1000kms is ample. Intial 1 - 200kms is crucial for bedding all metal surfaces in - things like piston rings & bores. I'd go for a nice easy run to Syd & back or something like that. Then get your heads re-tensioned & your tappets reset, change the oil then give it a tune then you can go for it. Give it a good rev & start the second stage of the bed, drive it like you want it to perform in the future.

Nacho · Post by **Nacho** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:18 am

Just wondering........what material have they used for the head gaskets? What is the benefit with using metal head gaskets or composite materials?

Post by **Bennoz** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 4:10 pm

Strength. Metal (whether it be the alloy or copper) are used on forced induction motors or motors with high compression ratios. I run a copper one on my mini as the compression is 12.5:1. I've blown composite ones to peices. But you pay a heavy price. Think I paid about 90 bucks for it - thats a 4 cyl too...plus the head gasket joining adhesives are a few bucks. Good peice of mind thou, but doubt its value on an FTO with minor mods.

spetz · Post by **spetz** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:25 pm

The head gaskets I am using are just original FTO ones (new from Mitsu)

What about the theory of bedding in your engine hard?

I am getting this done in sydney and have to drive back to the ACT anyway so it'll get 300 odd km on it

Post by **Bennoz** » Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:27 pm

spetz wrote:The head gaskets I am using are just original FTO ones (new from Mitsu)

What about the theory of bedding in your engine hard?

I am getting this done in sydney and have to drive back to the ACT anyway so it'll get 300 odd km on it

Bennoz wrote:Give it a good rev & start the second stage of the bed, drive it like you want it to perform in the future.

Yeah bed it in hard, but just go easy in the first few kms (like your trip home.) It just ensures any metal shavings & other miscellanious things get pushed through the motor & down to the sump first. Do your oil change & go for it.