First time engine test
 

When i first bought my 66, it had sat fro a few years in a storage unit, nad now, after a few / 6 months of sittin in my garage, im finnally ready (i think) to try and start it up. I was wondering if u guys could tell me anything else i would need to do before i try and start it. What follows is a list of what ive done. Thanks guys.....

Filled with Collant
New Oil and Filter
New Spark Plugs
New points and condensor
New engine wiring harness
"new" battery
Fuel line is ran to in cab tank

Anything else i chould do? Thanks again.....

Brad

Re: First time engine test
 

Since it has been sitting that long, I would pull the distributor and prime the oil pump. That way there will be oil in the top end when you start it up.

Re: First time engine test
 

ok cool, thanks

Brad

Re: First time engine test
 

Put the bigest filter you can find on the fuel line to catch the mice etc. when it comes out of that old gas tank!!! sitting that long it's gonna be "NASTY"

Re: First time engine test
 

A carb kit may not hurt.

Re: First time engine test
 

Just to be safe, pull the plugs and squirt some Marvel Mystery Oil into each sparkplug hole and let it sit and soak in for a day or two. When you are ready to turn the engine over do it by HAND!! Use a large breaker bar on the harmonic balancer bolt and see if the engine will turn over. If it does then your rings have not fused themselves to the cylinder walls. If the engine is loose, leave the plugs out and spin it over with the starter for about 30 seconds or so. This should spit out all of the Marvel Mystery Oil and get everything used to moving again. Reinstall plugs and wires, pour some fresh gas down the carb throat,(have a fire ext. handy) and see if she will light off. Good luck. RWG

Re: First time engine test
 

The nice hting is that we got lucky and when we did the first turning a while back, it went fine, wdid the breaker bar thing then the started for a while. It worked nice. I also did bebuild the carb, and it seems ok, lol. Still havent tested it with gas, but sometime. Thanks for the input guys....

Brad

Re: First time engine test
 

my truck set for 2 or 3 years before i got it. i just changed the plugs and wires, oil, and cleaned the carb up, and it fired right up. engine had less than 5000 miles on it when it was parked though.

Re: First time engine test
 

Ditto on having the fire extinguisher ready. I had flames lapping up the fire wall during the first startup of a new engine (flooded, gas dripping out headers caught fire) and it saved my skin.

It sounds like all the posts have pretty much covered all the possibilities.
Might also visually check the spark at at least 1 cylinder with a spare plug just to ensure its intensity. Sounds like a lot of work took place around the plugs/points/battery/wire harness area- just to be sure there is spark before cranking for a long period.

At any rate best of luck on the start-up. I personally prefer to wait until about 2:30am Sunday morning to perform this kind of work and have had excellent results doing it through open headers (just to keep the neighbors honest)! I believe they are secretly envious, but I could be wrong.

Will the '66 see the road this summer?

Best-
S-D