Tuning pre-assembly lubrication

[the hobbler]

A couple of tips for all budding engine builders--many years ago as a young mechanic working for Radbourne Racing, I built-up a number of Fiat 500 engines to 650cc. Often, when we stripped the Fiat 500 engines down, which only had about 3 miles collection and 'move-about' mileage on them, we noted scoring on the crank bearings. This was due to a lack of lubrication upon initial 'at the factory' starting. I personally got round this problem by making up a small mixture of 50% thin engine oil and 50% STP and covering ALL metal-to-metal surfaces with a good covering of this mix; pistons, bearing, camshasft and followers, oil pump etc. The stickiness of the STP holds lubrication onto the relevant surfaces until the engine is started and oil pressure created. Do NOT however, put the remnants of this mix or the remaining STP into the engine until the engine has been run-in--or it wont run-in! The 2nd tip is regarding the exhaust mounting; each of the 2 exhaust silencer mounting brackets is held on by 2 studs. The top studs screw into holes that extend right through the crankcase with only the top part threaded. Using the appropriate 'Tap', thread the hole the whole way down and then replace the stud with a machine-screw (i.e. threaded all the way down to the head) from INSIDE the crankcase with a smear of locktite on the thread and a flat washer under the head of the screw. This way, the screw takes all the stress, not the small amount of thread in the aluminium crankcase. I hope these tips help all you budding engine builders out there.