: My old 1972 /6 uses Autolite 66 plugs, but when
: I bought plugs for my new '79 head engine,
: it takes 5/8" reduced hex plugs. It
: needed Autolite 26 plugs. In the 66/26
: numbers, is the first number the type of
: plug, and the second number the heat range?

: Tim,
:
: You are correct. Depending on your ignition,
: you may want to run a slightly cooler plug,
: like a 25. I guess you'll only have 9:1
: comp, so it's probably fine with 26's.
:
: Later,
:
: Lou

: Yes, my new /6 has 9.04 compression. I now have
: the tools, so everything has been cc'd and
: calculated. I have regular electronic
: ignition that I put on in place of the old
: points system. A junkyard control box and
: distributor. Nothing fancy. It will have an
: Offenhauser intake, Holley 450 mechanical
: secondary, and Clifford headers also, if
: that matters. And a Purple Shaft 268 cam.
: And a 175K MP converter.

: You have a pretty good combo of parts Tim, when
: do you get to "light this
: thing-off"??
:
: Be sure to leave the valve lash loose on
: start-up. I think that .268 MP cam calls-out
: .030 for both Intake and Exhaust. It will
: take some "trial & error" to
: find a setting that idles OK with-out a
: bunch of tappit noise.
: DD

: The MP engines book says to use 28/32 lash, but
: a paper included with the cam said 16/20.
: I'll probably end up around 16/22-25. The
: engine is in the car now, just need to
: finish assembling everything. It's only 2 or
: 3 days away from fire-up! I'll set the lash
: more towards 25/30 for initial startup. I
: imagine the cam gets plastered with oil from
: the crank pretty good, so I'm not too
: worried about the break in, as long as the
: engine starts quickly! New motor, converter,
: cam, and carburetor all at once! Way to get
: the nerves and blood pressure up!

: One "trick" when starting a SL6 for
: the first time is to fill the filter with
: oil and keep a quart out untill you know the
: engine is going to run.
: When you are ready to run the engine
: "sustained" for a while, pour the
: last quart over all the valve gear. That
: last quart will run down and help keep the
: cam "lubed" during break-in. You
: do not have to run a SL6 at real high rpms
: to get plenty of oil onto the cam. (the cam
: is much lower and more exposed then in a V8,
: it gets lots of oil "splash")
: DD

: It is also a good idea to watch the lifters to
: see if they are "spinning" in the
: bores. They may not all spin at the same
: speed, but if they aren't spinning at all,
: it will wipe out a cam lobe.