A good-quality treatment like Torco should be used on all bearings at assembly. You can also use Torco as ring lube. Antiseize should be used for heat-related fasteners. Using plenty of good-quality oil during assembly doesn't hurt either.
The break-in period is 1,000 miles. This means light usage at varied rpm with no towing. The rings need to seat, and parts must go through their natural facing process (break-in). Letting bearings go through hot and cold cycles allows them to correctly wear in. Don't use synthetic or paraffin-based motor oils for the first 1,000 miles.
Proper tuning is first and foremost among performance considerations. Everything else is dominated by the ECU. Short cuts like aftermarket items not suited for the job should be avoided at all costs. Another common mistake is a pro builder thinking he's better than he actually is! A final hot tip for engine building: Be patient, do it once, and do it right.
As we explained in part one of the small-block build, we chose Don-A-Vee Chrysler and Jeep in Placentia, California, to install the engine. The dealership has been the state's leading Chrysler/Jeep dealer since 1961. Don-A-Vee has a rich history in the off-road motorsports industry. Don-A-Vee has built Jeeps for the World Expedition Team's in Patagonia and fielded one the greatest desert race teams in history with drivers Curt Le Duc and Darren Skilton. Don-A-Vee has sent teams to the World Cup All-Terrain Rally series in Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, and it has also been a big part of Jeep Jamboree for over 15 years.
Don-A-Vee's technicians have experience in all aspects of Jeep vehicles. Gary Grinkevich is an expert on Jeep engine swaps and is recognized as one of the first people to ever perform a Cherokee/Chevy 350 swap. Gary is the heart of the Don-A-Vee staff, all of whom have had a part in building and maintaining the globe-traveling vehicles that come out of the shop everyday. Two of these Jeeps finished the London to Sydney Rally, and another traveled from Moscow, crossing Siberia, to the Pacific.
Don-A-Vee is also well regarded in the aftermarket industry. It has been involved in the development of aftermarket parts and accessories and even produces its own accessories, one of which is the famous Grand Cherokee rear tire carrier.