My CA18 Runs!!

[cbh148]

So I just cranked up the CA for the first time, and it fired up on the first try. Took a little bit, but it is freshly rebuilt (new ACL bearings, bored 1mm over, Supertech pistons, Cometic HG, new gaskets everywhere, BB t28, stock cams/ecu/manifolds).

It idled for a couple of minutes, just working out some kinks with setting the throttle cable right. I took it on its first drive and did 10-15 pulls in 1st gear, letting it engine brake all the way back down to seat the rings. It feels quick! But on the second drive (the next day) it started lifter ticking really loud after it had warmed all the way up. When the engine was apart, I took every lifter out and pumped all the air bubbles out of them while submerged in motor oil. I put some Marvel Mystery oil in last night, but I'm doubting it will do anything. I've got a parts engine that I might take the lifters out of and go through the whole procedure of disassembling each lifter and cleaning them religiously.

Another issue -- the person who had this engine before me removed all the IACV air regulator stuff. All that stuff that is connected to the plenum on the intake manifold that hangs near the intake cam cover. A lot of the RB20 guys around here do the same thing, and they just say you have to give it some throttle to start up but have no problems otherwise. I kinda wish I had it all there, because on cold starts it seems like the engine doesn't respond to my throttle inputs for s*** for the first 10 minutes. Then again, that was before I set the ignition timing last night (was at 0, now it's 10 BTDC) so maybe that was the issue.

So far, I have maybe 3 miles on it. I'll get some pics up later if my phone will stop acting up.

[boost_boy]

Congratulations on getting your car running. Now, don't wait 50 miles to change that oil; as a matter of fact I'll be changing it right now. Don't let the car idle too much as that is not a cool thing to do and can/will screw-up the seating of the rings.

[float_6969]

Yea, Dee is dead on here. Especially about the idling thing. You need to beat on it as much as possible.

As for the idle control stuff, I THINK I have the housings laying around somewhere. I'd sell them to you for cheap. The caveat is that I don't think any of the solenoids work, so you'd have to buy new ones.

Also, did you replace the idle valve under the throttle body? That's the one that makes the car idle up when you first start it, and if it's not working, it can make the throttle performance when cold pretty poor.

[cbh148]

Advice taken -- changed the oil for the first time after maybe 5 miles of driving (if that) and a decent amount of idling. Went with another 4 quarts of Rotella 10w-30 and another new set of NGK's. Also, went drifting last night in this glorious rain we're having here in North Alabama. I was able to go down several hills while engine braking to help with the ring seating. Couldn't be happier with this engine!!

Thanks for all your help guys. I can't tell you how many times I found what I needed to know through the wealth of knowledge on Nico.

Current issues:
-Some sort of whining sound that almost seems to come from the timing belt cover
-Dialing in the idle with the throttle body stopper screws
-My Spec stage 3 pressure plate and ACT stage 4 unsprung disc combo will probably start slipping. It hasn't slipped at all yet, but I found out that my friend ran that same setup on his SR20 and it pooped out on him.
-Old crappy battery that seems to start the car weak and doesn't hold a charge