Starting my engine on the frame only - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Spoof · 10-06-2007, 06:38 PM

I know I should know this stuff...buuuut what do I need to do to fire up my old 350 on the frame. I've got the headers on, HEI dizzy in, fuel pump hose going to a jerry can, starter in, questionable carb on, rad hooked up. I've got it on blocks so it can't take off.
I can think as far as battery to starter...but what about the HEI?
Much like the inside of my engine, I'm a little rusty and I haven't had greasy hands in a while!

classicchev · 10-06-2007, 08:07 PM

Ignition on power to the + post on the HEI, ground the - post. Then you just need to figure out a switch. Go to Princess Auto and get a ignition switch and hook up power through the switch to the starter and fire it up..

xshadow · 10-06-2007, 08:20 PM

you don't need a switch if your doing it without a body on the frame. You can just run a wire to the battery that you can start it with. Don't forget to do someting with the hole that the oil pressure gauge connects to. It will leak oil. I hooked up the oil pressure gauge so it wouldn't leak oil. also if it's an auto trans connect the lines to the radiator. I wasn't doing much work to the engine just testing it.

xshadow · 10-06-2007, 08:45 PM

I didn't know if the engine was good and needed to start it up.

xshadow · 10-06-2007, 08:49 PM

It really needed a fan shroud. It seemed like it didn't take much for it to overheat. I did put a electric fan in front of it.

IvelDesigns · 10-06-2007, 09:20 PM

an old blower motor out of a furnace works well for situations like this.

EAST SIDE LOW LIFE · 10-07-2007, 01:15 AM

Hey Spoof Tell us how it goes, ttt. Good to get to this point.

esll.

Spoof · 10-07-2007, 01:55 AM

Great...oil guage in place. Esll...I'm leaving my Sandersons off until I get it tuned, ramhorns will do.
This motor hasn't been fired in six years, not sure what to expect. If I can't start it I may get a ZZ4, the stupid part of me hopes I can't fire it up.

70 GMC Trucker · 10-07-2007, 03:04 AM

Good luck from another Victoria GMC !!!

**Boog** · 10-07-2007, 11:22 AM

Did you put a timing light on it? Retarded timing will make one heat up real quick too.

Longhorn Man · 10-07-2007, 01:31 PM

yeah, if it's gettin hot just sitting there, something is wrong. Ashroud will help to keep it cool, but if it overheats simply becouse it's missing, then you're onj the verge of overheating with it, and there's no reason to overheat just sittin there revvin it unless you're holding it at 6 grand or something.

xshadow · 10-07-2007, 08:09 PM

It's not my post, but yes my timing was off. I didn't think about it affecting overheating. Thans boog I knew it was off before starting it. I just wanted to see if the engine was good. I don't think much air was going through the radiator and it was really hot out.
ANYWAY...goodluck starting it spoof

EAST SIDE LOW LIFE · 10-08-2007, 10:59 AM

Make sure oil pressure is up before you start the engine being that it sat so long.

esll.

10-06-2007, 06:38 PM	#1
Spoof Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Victoria,BC, Canada Posts: 1,300	Starting my engine on the frame only I know I should know this stuff...buuuut what do I need to do to fire up my old 350 on the frame. I've got the headers on, HEI dizzy in, fuel pump hose going to a jerry can, starter in, questionable carb on, rad hooked up. I've got it on blocks so it can't take off. I can think as far as battery to starter...but what about the HEI? Much like the inside of my engine, I'm a little rusty and I haven't had greasy hands in a while! __________________ 71 GMC 1500 LWB

10-06-2007, 08:07 PM	#2
classicchev Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Calgary Alberta Posts: 1,936	Re: Starting my engine on the frame only Ignition on power to the + post on the HEI, ground the - post. Then you just need to figure out a switch. Go to Princess Auto and get a ignition switch and hook up power through the switch to the starter and fire it up.. __________________ 67- 72 Parts collecter

10-06-2007, 08:20 PM	#3
xshadow Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: va Posts: 553	Re: Starting my engine on the frame only you don't need a switch if your doing it without a body on the frame. You can just run a wire to the battery that you can start it with. Don't forget to do someting with the hole that the oil pressure gauge connects to. It will leak oil. I hooked up the oil pressure gauge so it wouldn't leak oil. also if it's an auto trans connect the lines to the radiator. I wasn't doing much work to the engine just testing it. Last edited by xshadow; 10-06-2007 at 08:55 PM.

10-06-2007, 08:45 PM	#4
xshadow Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: va Posts: 553	Re: Starting my engine on the frame only I didn't know if the engine was good and needed to start it up.

10-06-2007, 08:49 PM	#5
xshadow Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: va Posts: 553	Re: Starting my engine on the frame only It really needed a fan shroud. It seemed like it didn't take much for it to overheat. I did put a electric fan in front of it.

10-06-2007, 09:20 PM	#6
IvelDesigns Commander Taco Bello Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Posts: 2,232	Re: Starting my engine on the frame only an old blower motor out of a furnace works well for situations like this. __________________ Bagged '50 3600 - Bumper punchin' road kill since 2009... Bagged '69 C10 Longbed - Bumper punchin' road kill since 2007...

10-07-2007, 01:15 AM	#7
EAST SIDE LOW LIFE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C., Canada Posts: 1,602	Re: Starting my engine on the frame only Hey Spoof Tell us how it goes, ttt. Good to get to this point. esll. __________________ Tomorrow is for doing today's stuff. ************************************* This truck has just the right amount of energy for me! Author: Warren Lake .... (member)

10-07-2007, 01:55 AM	#8
Spoof Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Victoria,BC, Canada Posts: 1,300	Re: Starting my engine on the frame only Great...oil guage in place. Esll...I'm leaving my Sandersons off until I get it tuned, ramhorns will do. This motor hasn't been fired in six years, not sure what to expect. If I can't start it I may get a ZZ4, the stupid part of me hopes I can't fire it up. __________________ 71 GMC 1500 LWB

10-07-2007, 03:04 AM	#9
70 GMC Trucker Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Victoria, BC Canada Posts: 48	Re: Starting my engine on the frame only Good luck from another Victoria GMC !!!

10-07-2007, 11:22 AM	#10
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,377	Re: Starting my engine on the frame only Did you put a timing light on it? Retarded timing will make one heat up real quick too. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

10-07-2007, 01:31 PM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Starting my engine on the frame only yeah, if it's gettin hot just sitting there, something is wrong. Ashroud will help to keep it cool, but if it overheats simply becouse it's missing, then you're onj the verge of overheating with it, and there's no reason to overheat just sittin there revvin it unless you're holding it at 6 grand or something.

10-07-2007, 08:09 PM	#12
xshadow Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: va Posts: 553	Re: Starting my engine on the frame only It's not my post, but yes my timing was off. I didn't think about it affecting overheating. Thans boog I knew it was off before starting it. I just wanted to see if the engine was good. I don't think much air was going through the radiator and it was really hot out. ANYWAY...goodluck starting it spoof

10-08-2007, 10:59 AM	#13
EAST SIDE LOW LIFE Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: VANCOUVER ISLAND, B.C., Canada Posts: 1,602	Re: Starting my engine on the frame only Make sure oil pressure is up before you start the engine being that it sat so long. esll. __________________ Tomorrow is for doing today's stuff. ************************************* This truck has just the right amount of energy for me! Author: Warren Lake .... (member)



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