Please Be Seated!

[Smoove1010]

I'm at the final stage of my project (87 Drop Top - Drop-n-Top End,) getting the Goetze OEM rings (from our host) to seat.
Context: '87 3.2 cab, top-end rebuild done to OEM specs, alusil cylinders professionally felt-pad-paste honed.

Here's what I gleaned from Googling the forum on the topic of seating new rings - and I've read through dozens of posts:
- Rings will seat somewhere between 10 and 1,500 miles;
- They might have already seated during the first 10 minutes of driving;
- They might never seat.

I've taken the car out for two runs of about 30 minutes, each time attempting to follow the mototune-method by varying the RPMs, and conducting many accel-decel cycles, up to 2K rpm until fully warmed, then 3K, then 4K. The engine feels great - she really wants to rev past 4K!

- I've got 30 miles of accel-decel-roller-coaster mileage on it now - by the time I get to 100 miles, is it a fair assumption that I will have given the engine it's best shot at a good ring-cylinder convergence?
- Are there any outward signs when seating has taken place? Some posts seem to indicate that it's a sudden occurrence, as though a ring-seating tipping-point is reached.
- At what mileage can I let her run to 5K and above like she wants?

I'd really like to take the S.O. for a ride soon - she put up with me disappearing into the garage for the last 5 months - but I don't want to make her sea-sick...

Thanks in advance for any insights - I would not have been able to complete this very rewarding project if not for the incredible knowledge base on this forum.

GK

[HawgRyder]

The fastest way I know from experience to seat new rings...warm up new engine (assuming you have already changed the oil and filter after the initial start)...get out on back road...do 30 to 50 MPH or whatever KPH that works out to ... several times.
Don't use the brakes...just let it slow down...I usually ust 3rd gear but use whatever gear will kepp you in the 2500 - 3500 RPM range.
This will cause the rings to get maximum "scrape" on the walls.
We used this all the time for race engines....to have it ready for the track as quickly as possible.
Bob

[Eagledriver]

There is no "Ah Ha" moment when the rings have seated. The engine just stops burning oil. It's rare to have the rings never seat. I don't do anything special, just drive it. My car is a race car so it get's driven hard after maybe 50 miles of "street" driving.

-Andy

[notmytarga]

My local wrench told me to head out past Whiskeytown lake and head up to Buckhorn summit.
This is a 2500 ft climb about 15 miles out of town. About 5-8% grade for the last 4-5 miles. The rings got nice and warm to about 200-210F (I installed the external cooling system after this ) and the deceleration was augmented on the way back down. It has never been over 190F since - well except for some Thunderhill hot laps.... If you have a good mountain grade nearby you are all set.

[Ronnie's.930]

Originally Posted by Smoove1010

The engine feels great - she really wants to rev past
- At what mileage can I let her run to 5K and above like she wants?

It would have been fine to run it up to 5K plus the first time you drove it. My method for engine "wear-in" is based on many years of racing experience and limited experience with piston engined aircraft (this includes talking with builders who have been doing this for decades): three heat cycles at a stand still (checking for leaks, noise, etc), one slowish drive/dyno run to make sure the transmission shifts properly (again check for leaks and noises), and then hammer it from that point on.