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What is your preferred assembly lube? I need to lube my cam and lifters before I put the pan on. I have found many different brands out there. I install my pistons and torqued the rods today. So, I’m making some progress. Ring end gap was .012 on my Hastings rings.

I have used Melling assembly lube with good results for several engine builds. It's a thick red liquid with just a little bit of stickiness which sort of reminds me of STP. BTW, every one of the engines I've built using STP as an assembly lube have had some sort of oil-related problem. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but I haven't used that stuff since the mid-1960's in anything other than chainsaw bar oil.

This product with the Permatex brand name looks like the same stuff:

https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-81950-Ultra-Engine-Assembly/dp/B000HBNVSK

Jerry

Jerry,

What about Lubriplate 105? I also use that for the lower unit gear lube on my vintage Mercury outboards.

My local NAPA has that available.

Is the Lubriplate a liquid, or a lithium-based grease? I've found chunks of Lubriplate grease in oil filters and pump pickup screens while inspecting race engines after doing a cam run-in on a dyno. We used to coat cam lobes and lifters with Lubriplate during assembly, but I'm not sure it breaks down completely as it circulates. NAPA will also have their own brand of assembly lube that will be similar to the examples I've given.
Jerry

I have used the above Permatex product Jerry posted a link to on multiple cam installs and I have had no cam related failures.

I have used the Lubriplate white assembly grease for decades. I use it primarily on the main and rod bearings, rocker tips and adjusters, a little tiny bit on the top of the lifter. The thing is you cant glob it on. It squeezes out and flings into and onto the pan the moment the motor fires up. You just need to coat the bearings lightly so they are protected on start up. Its a hard thing to do, just coat lightly, lol, because the natural inclination is more is better, but not so here. And I agree with HRL, use too much of that stuff and you get it laying pretty thick in the pan. So just a lubricating coat.

For a cam, I use what comes with the cam. Schneider Cams has their version, other makers have theirs. I never use the lubriplate for the cam. I am no oil and grease expert but cam break in grease is different then assembly grease. So I would say use a major cam manufacturers cam break in lube. Same deal though. Intuitively you want to glob it on but nope, just get a some on the lobes, otherwise the excess flings off and makes a mess in the motor and it does not break down all that well.

I have a 235 motor in my garage that I built in 1985. I forget now why, but a couple of years ago I needed to pull the pan from that motor. It has a Chet Herbert regrind. Remember the ads in the back of hot rod, any cam any grind 39.95. That regrind was one of the better cams I have ever had but like all things, Chet passed and so did his regrinds. But yep, the Chet Herbert cam grease that I liberally gooped all over that cam in 85 was still in the bottom of the pan after countless countless oil changes.

I also would not use STP.

Been using Sta-Lube engine assembly lube with no issues.

Vaseline was a way to improve start-up suction when used to pack oil pump gears. It's supposed to liquefy in hot oil and have no after-effects.

We assembled automatic transmissions with Vaseline also, as well as packing oil pumps. Yes, it does dissolve completely on the first run.
Jerry