Nervous About Wiping Out a Cam Lobe, How to Make Sure it DOESN'T Happen Options

[VWTortuga336]

I'm finally about to start assembling my 2366. Right now, I'm most nervous about wiping out a lobe on my new cam, a SCAT C35 (.495 lift, 285 duration) - I am using matching SCAT lifters.

Really just wanting to get my plan on paper and front of this audience to make sure I'm on the right track and to put my mind at ease. Here's what I'm thinking:

1) Use graphite spray on cam and lifters
2) Liberal application of the supplied assembly lube (the thick stuff) to the cam and lifters
3) Since the lifters have a lube hole in the center of them, prime them with assembly lube
4) Fill pushrods with oil
5) Use Brad Penn break in oil
6) Don't install rocker arms until after oil pressure is built so I don't wipe off the assembly lube during the pressure building process

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[stugray]

After doing all of the research about the oil systems in the engines, I have two more suggestions:

1 - DONT prefill the filter when installing it on an engine that has never run. It will take even longer to prime the pump.

2 - IF you want to pre-prime the pump, then you can remove the oil filter bracket and slowly pour oil (old fashioned oil can would be perfect) into the lower hole in the case. This will backfill the pump from the top. If you could turn the engine backwards a one full turn while doing this, the pump would be primed and reach pressure faster.

And I used a mechanical oil pressure gauge to verify pressure during cam breakin. I didn't want any question about pressure at that point.