Engine several years old and has never been run

I have an engine that is several years old and has never been run.

Are there any things I should do or procedures I should follow before starting it for the first time?

Thanks.

Mike

You'll get a lot of opinions, but as long as it turns freely I would pop the top of the carb and clean it, confirm that the valves are adjusted, fresh oil and gas, check around the fan shroud for any little dead critters or nests that would restrict air low, say a few words of hope and fire it up. Prior to putting into service a full tune uo and replacing the rear main seal and flywheel O' ring.

If the motor has never been run, if the rings and barrels haven't been seated, you'll need to follow the standard "break-in" procedure, and prep the motor much more carefully.

Post your question here:

http://shoptalkforums.com/viewforum.php?f=34&sid=9eaaf6d1942d6d1f316f2559c5f73198

They've done it all before and some of the very best in the business/hobby frequent the forum.

Luck (lots!)

TC

TC,

I tried posting the question on Shoptalk and got no response. It kind of surprised me.

I have been wondering if I should spray something through the spark plug holes.

I didn't mention that it has an Accusump system that will supply oil under pressure as it cranks.

Because it has been sitting for a long time, my main concern is if I should do any different or extra things that I wouldent do for a fresh engine.

If you want to...A small amount (teaspoon)of CRC oil down each plug hole and let it sit for 24 hours then rotate the motor 180 degrees and add a bit more. This will loosen a stuck ring if any.
When you do start the motor, warn the neighbors not to call the Fire Dept as it will cause a great amounts of smoke.

I've read the same suggestion Alan mentions but with Marvel Oil. Adjust valves, oil the valve train thoroughly, get new oil in the engine and crank it first without the spark plugs until the oilt pressure goes up; then install the spark plugs and start it up.

Your engine hasn't run in a few years? Was it mounted in a car the whole time? OLd fuel
and rust in the tank should be looked into and an extra fuel filter added.

Your engine hasn't run in a few years? Was it mounted in a car the whole time? OLd fuel
and rust in the tank should be looked into and an extra fuel filter added.

The engine has never been mounted in a car until a couple of days ago when my Speedster project finally progressed to that point. Now that it is mounted, I can't rotate the engine 180 degrees as Alan suggests. I assume he means rotate the engine and not the crank.

What is CRC oil?

Mike,

If the engine has never been run (i.e. was freshly built, then never installed until the car was finished) you will need to run it in a particular way to break in the components (particularly the cam and lifters)

Follow this link to aircooled.net. It should answer your questions:

http://www.aircooled.net/gnrlsite/resource/articles/engnbrkn.htm

Pickle it in Marvel mystery oil for a week, pull the plugs, spin it over and hope for the best!

Marvel works wonders for this!

There; you heard it from The Man! By the way Jake; I watched your Bug Me Video DVD on the Type IV rebuild (Jjr ordered it and let me watch it) and it's a fine piece of work; definitely worth every penny and more!