truck been sitting a year now. best way to start - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

salrod00 · 02-20-2010, 12:02 PM

i have a 79 c10 with 350/400 in it. now that its spring time im wondering if i could just turn it over and let her breathe again or should i do certain fluid changes and stuff like that. its been thru winter, summer and recently winter again. lowest its been has been 25 degrees for about 5 days in a row.. how and what should i do to not damage the motor. thanks

**old Rusty C10** · 02-20-2010, 12:06 PM

id throw some fresh gas in it.. id change the oil disconnect the fuel and make sure the oil gets up through the motor by cranking the motor a bit before i did anything then id also check the coolant level brake fluid and the trans level

James McClure · 02-20-2010, 01:34 PM

I've been here before. First thing pull the plugs and get some WD40 in each hole and let it sit a while. Next find a way to turn the eng over by hand. Go a little bit each way, then if it's free, turn it a few revs each way. With the plugs out, crank it with the starter until you get oil pressure. Clean and reinstall the plugs and fire it up. If eng will not crank by hand, the rings are set up and your going to have to work it real good to break it free. Down side of this problem is you might break the lands on the pistons. If it's that bad you have 2 options, replace the motor or take this one out and strip it down and rebuild it, your choice and expensive either way. For long term storage, run eng out of gas. Fill carb with WD40. Next pull the plugs and squirt a good synthetic motor oil in each cylinder (an ounce will do it) Turn the eng over BY HAND a few times. Set the timing mark 90 degrees off TDC. Put as much oil into each cylinder as you can and put the plugs back in. Disconnect battery and remove to indoors, cover carb with plastic and reinstall air filter housing. When it comes out of storage, remove plugs, crank it over by hand, then with the starter, clean plugs and reinstall and try to start it. It will take a while, and when it does, it will smoke like hell for a while then clear up, jim

02-20-2010, 12:02 PM	#1
salrod00 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: tyler texas Posts: 165	truck been sitting a year now. best way to start i have a 79 c10 with 350/400 in it. now that its spring time im wondering if i could just turn it over and let her breathe again or should i do certain fluid changes and stuff like that. its been thru winter, summer and recently winter again. lowest its been has been 25 degrees for about 5 days in a row.. how and what should i do to not damage the motor. thanks

02-20-2010, 12:06 PM	#2
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,277	Re: truck been sitting a year now. best way to start id throw some fresh gas in it.. id change the oil disconnect the fuel and make sure the oil gets up through the motor by cranking the motor a bit before i did anything then id also check the coolant level brake fluid and the trans level __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

02-20-2010, 01:34 PM	#3
James McClure One shot, one kill. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Posts: 859	Re: truck been sitting a year now. best way to start I've been here before. First thing pull the plugs and get some WD40 in each hole and let it sit a while. Next find a way to turn the eng over by hand. Go a little bit each way, then if it's free, turn it a few revs each way. With the plugs out, crank it with the starter until you get oil pressure. Clean and reinstall the plugs and fire it up. If eng will not crank by hand, the rings are set up and your going to have to work it real good to break it free. Down side of this problem is you might break the lands on the pistons. If it's that bad you have 2 options, replace the motor or take this one out and strip it down and rebuild it, your choice and expensive either way. For long term storage, run eng out of gas. Fill carb with WD40. Next pull the plugs and squirt a good synthetic motor oil in each cylinder (an ounce will do it) Turn the eng over BY HAND a few times. Set the timing mark 90 degrees off TDC. Put as much oil into each cylinder as you can and put the plugs back in. Disconnect battery and remove to indoors, cover carb with plastic and reinstall air filter housing. When it comes out of storage, remove plugs, crank it over by hand, then with the starter, clean plugs and reinstall and try to start it. It will take a while, and when it does, it will smoke like hell for a while then clear up, jim __________________ 1984 K20 350M engine with 465,000 miles. Well, it's finally done!! Almost 2 years of work, but it was really worth the effort. Little stuff left to do is mount winch, wet sand & buff out and build belly pan\running boards. Body work takes lots and LOTS of beer!!!! God, Guts and Guns made America and God, Guts and Guns will preserve it! The worst thing you could do is get into my sights, but that don't matter, you'll never know it, cause you'll never hear the shotJim or Paladin whichever you choose.



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