351M that has set for two years that has never been fired or rotated

I still have to put in the (distributor-HEI style) in and time it

I need to know the firing order and info on how to time it

any info that will make breaking this engine in easy will help

 

13726548

break-in for a flat tappet engine is a 20 minute process that work hardens the cam and lifters. you want the engine to fire imediately if possible and run at 2000-2500 rpm for 20 minutes without interuption. this means you want to have a garden hose ready to top off the radiator when the Tstat opens, timing light hooked up and balancer marked ahead of time and the distributor loose enough to move but tight enough to stay put, and a large fan or blower on the radiator is a bonus.

you NEED an oil with ZDDP, Shell Rotella no longer has it. Valvoline VR1 racing oil, Brad Penn, Gibbs BR and some others have the right stuff. there are also products like ZDDP+ and Elgin has a product also. an extra quart in the pan for break-in is OK

make sure you have the correct Tstat, these engines use a special type. no Tstat is not an option. i use only water for break-in, no point in having A/F bubble all over the place

 

I leave the Tstat and water neck off and add coolant till I see it comming up in there.Then put Tstat and water neck on. You won't have a noticeable air lock then.

 

i just drill a 1/8" bleeder hole in the Tstat and don't have to mess with it again.

these engines are not to be run without a Tstat due to the internal bypass system, but we've been around that before...
http://www.are.com.au/feat/techt/thermostat.htm