Low oil miles & engine work. Change or not?

[fnbrowning]

This is the scenario:

I am going to be doing some performance work on my 2002 T/A. Being installed is the performance cam/valve springs, timing chain, ported oil pump. I have Redline oil in the sump.

I had intended to change the oil after my swap, but really, the oil has less than 600 miles on it because I didn’t drive the car over the winter. I’ve got practically clean oil in there!

I know that late-model roller cams like those in the GM LS1 don’t “break-in” like the old non-roller varieties, and you don't use an "assembly lube" on the lobes or bearings.

But I’m still wondering about my metals content being high in the oil and about the occasional piece of small dirt from opening the valve covers, front cover, etc.

What are my options?
Should I just change the filter & add another quart after the engine’s been run a bit?
Or
Should I go the expensive route and dump this oil/filter and put all new in?

 

[JohnBrowning]

Your wear metals are still going to increase rapidly with these parts being swaped out. We have UOA on this site of these engine with much the same swaps as you are planing and in all cases the wear metals shot up drasticly. I would still use an assembly lube on all of the parts but I would use Redlines assembly lube as it is free of any solids and will not plug up your filter at all. The oil pump,timing chain,lifters and cam should all be coated with Redline assembly lube!!!! I would run the Redline oil you have in it right now for 500-1000 after the new parts are installed miles and then dump it!

 

[JHZR2]

change the filter AFTER youve done the work, dirve it for 500-1000 miles, then change it all out. Actually, Id probably just change it right before you put it away for the winter, if you dont do much more than 1000 miles in the summer. If youre going over 2-3k between now and when you put it away, Id say change it early.

I dont know how you feel about it, but Id probably want fresh oil in the sump and on the parts befopre I stored a vehicle for an entire winter.

JMH

 

[fnbrowning]

Interesting about the assembly lube, because it isn't mentioned often at all. One of the sites quoted most often by ppl at LS1tech for cam install information is LS1Howto.com.
Notice this part:

quote:

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Now we need to prep the new camshaft. If you have some wet towels or brake cleaner, clean the cam. Try to get inside the center of the camshaft (it's hollow) to get any gunk out of there. Some cams come very filthy from the vendors, some come very clean. It's always a good idea to check.

Now, grab some fresh motor oil and pour it onto the new cam. Get everything coated nicely.

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Are we sure about the need for assembly lube?