I've got an 87 Turbo II that I use for autocrosses and track events. I've just rebuilt the motor ( new bearings, rotor housings, seals, etc..). I'm running about 12 psi of boost max. The car is trailered to and from events since I don't have plates. I went to an inspection station (I live in TX) and asked what I needed to have on the car for it to be inspected so I could get plates. I wanted to do this so I could drive it around to break in the motor. Well, the biggest hurdle is the emmisions stuff which I have none of and would be a major hassle to put on to get it inspected as well as the instrument cluster.

So my question is, what do you guys and gals with race only cars do to break in a new motor?

Thanks for the help, JC

 

If the car "looks" street legal I'd borrow some plates off something else, put liability insurance on it, and drive it. In Texas you could trailer that thing a few hours West of where you're at and drive all week and never see a cop.

 

In the past I've found private track days (some other racer rents the track for whatever reason, then sells a few slots to help with the cost) exceedingly useful for engine breakin. There are typically very few cars on track, so it's not much of an issue that you're going very slow.

 

Most of the racers I know use a dyno, and/or enter an event that the outcome in unimportant and just short shift.

 

Sign up for an HPDE or other open track day. Poke around for the weekend shortshifting and keeping the boost low etc. If you are like me and have the car all stickered up and sounding loud as hell, ain't no way I'd be able to drive it on the street without being noticed...even with plates on it.
Crispy

 

I do the initial no load running for two hours in my garage with several cooling fans on it. I try and do this during the daytime so the noise does not disturb my neighbors so much.
Then I try and do an hour of back road driving - most speed I can maintain is 4500 rpm on public roads. Then I go to an open track day or a practice day before race weekend, and keep the revs low, slowly building the revs up with each 1/2 hour of break in.

 

Thanks for all the advice folks.