starting the engine without a stand? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

big blue 72 · 06-29-2009, 11:01 PM

I have my 250 six cylinder on a oak pallet that i have tied it to with chains. Could I hook it up to a gas can with a gravity feed to the fuel pump and crank it over or even run it for a short period of time safely?
I do have the starter hooked up and a jump starter /inverter for power,or a battery. No tranny mounted yet.
I'm just wondering .do i need to really brace this to the wall of the garage /fence posts, etc to test start it?
I can even hook up a three row radiator to it if i should?
As you can tell, i'm a plumber, not a mechanic and all the guys who usually help me are just busy this time of year ,but i wanna see if this engine will crank/run.
Any suggestions are welcome so i dont kill myself.

Longhorn Man · 06-29-2009, 11:21 PM

I've seen it done before.
If you hook up a rad to it, then remove the fan. You could just use a piece of pipe and connect the upper and lower hose together and fill them (and the engine) with water. You'll only have it fired up for 5 min tops anyways.
Matter of fact.... just remove the fan period. No need if slinging the blades around, they'll do nothing but threaten life and limb.
I would strongly consider a brace on the passenger side, but if you can keep off the throttle all together, then it won't be needed, but the reality of it is, you may have to rev it to fire, or to maintain idle, or just becouse it is fun.
Make sure it is sitting verticly and no leaning, need to keep the oil pump pick up in the oil, and if it is leaning, it may not happen.
I would wire the ignition to a battery with a toggle, or a quick disconnect (alligator clip maybe) so you can shut it off instantly in case something goes wrong.
Hook battery cables up, one to starter, one to the block, then a remote starter button to the S terminal on the starter, then the wire going to the ignition (coil, or HEI) with the afomentioned quick shut off. Thats the wire you need to unplug to make the motor shut off.

**GruntMoanCough** · 06-30-2009, 12:49 AM

Be sure to wear gloves, goggles, a flak jacket, stand back, and make sure the video camera is running, I gotta see this!

Just kidding, you'll probably survive.

vectorit · 06-30-2009, 01:11 AM

Make sure all flamables are far away, and don't use a container that has more fuel needed to do a quick fire up. Since there will be fire coming from the exhaust outlet, and that could catch things (your wooden stand) on fire.
If the engine falls over, or you get startled and knock something over you don't want a large amount of fuel to cause a catastrophe.

Be carefull.

big blue 72 · 06-30-2009, 07:35 AM

Good idea on the toggle switch Andy. I have to modify an old distributor to make my oil pump primer with tonight, then hopefully it wont rain when i'm ready to start. the next couple of days arent lookin good for this .

prostreetC-10 · 06-30-2009, 09:59 AM

Do you have an engine stand? I fire all my motors on an engine stand. I have the C kind of stand and not the cheaper T. I made braces that run from the outside of the stand to the engine mounts. It works perfect and doesn't move. There is a link called "may I hear your motor/exhaust?" the first post is me firing a 460 BBC. It was smooth as silk.

BarryB · 06-30-2009, 10:06 AM

I've never done this , but have watched my dad do it. He would pull a motor out of a junk car, then advertise it forsale, when potential buyers would by he would start it on the ground with out being strapped or anything.

VanceH · 06-30-2009, 10:19 AM

If you do this please take a video!!! I would love to see that.

ChevLoRay · 06-30-2009, 02:13 PM

Right before you give it the gas, and if you find yourself saying to whoever is near, "Hey! Watch this!", you might want to rethink your plan.

70 shorty · 06-30-2009, 03:32 PM

Yup, famous redneck last words. Y'all aint gonna belive this $*it! And yeah you're right, it takes one to know one.

big blue 72 · 06-30-2009, 03:55 PM

Guess that means youins know I aint much of a gear head huh.
But, I'm tryin man ,I'm tryin!!!!!!!!!

***Josh*** · 06-30-2009, 05:53 PM

YouTube - 250 6

Another member did it for me to show it running for an engine I'm picking up to go in my panel to get her back on the road.

Josh

big blue 72 · 06-30-2009, 08:57 PM

Thank You Josh!
that is exactly what I am doing with the 250 I've got for my panel, except i dont have a HEI distributor yet.
Thanks again!

06-29-2009, 11:01 PM	#1
big blue 72 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: hamilton,ohio,usa Posts: 1,499	starting the engine without a stand? I have my 250 six cylinder on a oak pallet that i have tied it to with chains. Could I hook it up to a gas can with a gravity feed to the fuel pump and crank it over or even run it for a short period of time safely? I do have the starter hooked up and a jump starter /inverter for power,or a battery. No tranny mounted yet. I'm just wondering .do i need to really brace this to the wall of the garage /fence posts, etc to test start it? I can even hook up a three row radiator to it if i should? As you can tell, i'm a plumber, not a mechanic and all the guys who usually help me are just busy this time of year ,but i wanna see if this engine will crank/run. Any suggestions are welcome so i dont kill myself. __________________ Broken Back Club 72 Club GMC Club Panel truck Club 6 cylinder Club Unfinished Projects Club Outdoor Sportsmens Club

06-29-2009, 11:21 PM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: starting the engine without a stand? I've seen it done before. If you hook up a rad to it, then remove the fan. You could just use a piece of pipe and connect the upper and lower hose together and fill them (and the engine) with water. You'll only have it fired up for 5 min tops anyways. Matter of fact.... just remove the fan period. No need if slinging the blades around, they'll do nothing but threaten life and limb. I would strongly consider a brace on the passenger side, but if you can keep off the throttle all together, then it won't be needed, but the reality of it is, you may have to rev it to fire, or to maintain idle, or just becouse it is fun. Make sure it is sitting verticly and no leaning, need to keep the oil pump pick up in the oil, and if it is leaning, it may not happen. I would wire the ignition to a battery with a toggle, or a quick disconnect (alligator clip maybe) so you can shut it off instantly in case something goes wrong. Hook battery cables up, one to starter, one to the block, then a remote starter button to the S terminal on the starter, then the wire going to the ignition (coil, or HEI) with the afomentioned quick shut off. Thats the wire you need to unplug to make the motor shut off.

06-30-2009, 12:49 AM	#3
GruntMoanCough Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pemberton, BC Posts: 1,075	Re: starting the engine without a stand? Be sure to wear gloves, goggles, a flak jacket, stand back, and make sure the video camera is running, I gotta see this! Just kidding, you'll probably survive. __________________ My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am - Unknown

06-30-2009, 01:11 AM	#4
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: starting the engine without a stand? Make sure all flamables are far away, and don't use a container that has more fuel needed to do a quick fire up. Since there will be fire coming from the exhaust outlet, and that could catch things (your wooden stand) on fire. If the engine falls over, or you get startled and knock something over you don't want a large amount of fuel to cause a catastrophe. Be carefull. __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU

06-30-2009, 07:35 AM	#5
big blue 72 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: hamilton,ohio,usa Posts: 1,499	Re: starting the engine without a stand? Good idea on the toggle switch Andy. I have to modify an old distributor to make my oil pump primer with tonight, then hopefully it wont rain when i'm ready to start. the next couple of days arent lookin good for this . __________________ Broken Back Club 72 Club GMC Club Panel truck Club 6 cylinder Club Unfinished Projects Club Outdoor Sportsmens Club

06-30-2009, 09:59 AM	#6
prostreetC-10 My Carbon Footprint Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Orygun Posts: 5,527	Re: starting the engine without a stand? Do you have an engine stand? I fire all my motors on an engine stand. I have the C kind of stand and not the cheaper T. I made braces that run from the outside of the stand to the engine mounts. It works perfect and doesn't move. There is a link called "may I hear your motor/exhaust?" the first post is me firing a 460 BBC. It was smooth as silk. __________________ A quick "pedalfest" *Still getting loose (carb test)* 496 Initial fire up video!

06-30-2009, 10:06 AM	#7
BarryB Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Blountville, Tn. Posts: 3,904	Re: starting the engine without a stand? I've never done this , but have watched my dad do it. He would pull a motor out of a junk car, then advertise it forsale, when potential buyers would by he would start it on the ground with out being strapped or anything. __________________ We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp; some are pretty;and some are dull. Some have weird names; and all are different colours;but they all have to live in the same box. You may be only one person in the world, But you may also be the world to one person. * Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Two rules in life. 1. Never sweat the small stuff! 2. Everything is small stuff!

06-30-2009, 10:19 AM	#8
VanceH Loving the Jimmster Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Emmett, idaho Posts: 575	Re: starting the engine without a stand? If you do this please take a video!!! I would love to see that.

06-30-2009, 02:13 PM	#9
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: starting the engine without a stand? Right before you give it the gas, and if you find yourself saying to whoever is near, "Hey! Watch this!", you might want to rethink your plan. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

06-30-2009, 03:32 PM	#10
70 shorty Where's my beer? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Glen Allen, VA Posts: 1,772	Re: starting the engine without a stand? Yup, famous redneck last words. Y'all aint gonna belive this $*it! And yeah you're right, it takes one to know one. __________________ 70 C10, shortstep, .30 over 250,Hurst shifted 3 spd parts hauler. Holley 390, Clifford Intake, Header, ported cylinder head, unknown bigger cam. 79 Corvette L82, 4 spd, black, red interior, headers, flowmasters, and unkown bigger cam. '03 Grand Cherokee Laredo, 4.0 4x4 daily driver. 165K miles, and runs great '08 Tahoe LTZ 4x4 155K

06-30-2009, 03:55 PM	#11
big blue 72 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: hamilton,ohio,usa Posts: 1,499	Re: starting the engine without a stand? Guess that means youins know I aint much of a gear head huh. But, I'm tryin man ,I'm tryin!!!!!!!!! __________________ Broken Back Club 72 Club GMC Club Panel truck Club 6 cylinder Club Unfinished Projects Club Outdoor Sportsmens Club

06-30-2009, 08:57 PM	#13
big blue 72 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: hamilton,ohio,usa Posts: 1,499	Re: starting the engine without a stand? Thank You Josh! that is exactly what I am doing with the 250 I've got for my panel, except i dont have a HEI distributor yet. Thanks again! __________________ Broken Back Club 72 Club GMC Club Panel truck Club 6 cylinder Club Unfinished Projects Club Outdoor Sportsmens Club



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