firing the beast up for the first time in about a year. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

willett · 01-12-2011, 11:56 AM

Hey Guys

the bad news:
i have neglected my truck a bit and it has been parked for about a year, and i havent had the decency to crank it over in that time.

the good news:
i'm going to light er' up in the next couple days.

i was thinking i would pull the batteries and put a trickle charge on em.

once those are juiced up i will pull the primary lead from the distributor cap and crank er' for a few 20 second cycles to get some oil back up top.

is this good enough procedure or should i be doing more?

geezer#99 · 01-12-2011, 12:27 PM

Vancouver EH!!!! Wet environment. Not good.
Before you pull the batteries bump the motor over just enough to see it turns. Pull the plugs and squirt a little oil in each cylinder. Put new plugs back in. Charge up your battery. Trickle charger is best. Give it a long charge. Splash a little gas in the carb so it will fire right away. OIl flow and pressure right away is good. After you get the old girl purring shut her down and change your oil. Acids build up in oil that sits too long causing premature bearing failure.
Where in Van do you live?

terryj · 01-12-2011, 05:22 PM

Geezer, good advice, when i got my 83 Scottsdale it had been sitting in a barn for about 3 years. I had to drain the gas tanks and put in fresh fuel, changed the plugs and squirted a little oil in the cylinders. It fired right up, but the valve cover gaskets leaked long with the water pump gasket. No big deal in fixing them. The exhust was in real bad shape so I installed a set of Headmans and new exhaust, the truck purrs like a loud kitten.

willett · 01-12-2011, 05:55 PM

hey geezer.

i hail from north van.

so i pulled the plug leads from the cap and cranked her about 5 or 6 20 second cycles and then put the plug leads back onto the cap.

i put in some fresh gas on top of some old gas (there was very little left) and gave er' a go.

it cranks like a hot damn but won't fire.

i'm getting fuel at the carb and it passes the smell test if this is of much (or any) relevence.

i couldn't check spark because i didn't have a helper. i'm going to go back on saturday with a buddy and give it another go.

all that i can think is that the fuel in there is crappy and it doesn't want to fire on it, or i flooded it when i was cranking it initially.

i picked up a can of carb medic but later realized it didn't contain any methinol. Its the methinol that gives the engine some "assistance" starting is it not?

allengator · 01-12-2011, 06:00 PM

If the dizzy is not HEI, I would suspect points have corroded from sitting (my chevelle would do that if I let it sit any longer that 3 months)

If it IS HEI, then I would suspect the ignition module...

willett · 01-12-2011, 08:51 PM

hmm its not hei.

i will take a look.

is it possible to clean to points?

allengator · 01-12-2011, 08:54 PM

Yes... With a small needle file, but points are cheap...
Posted via Mobile Device

willett · 01-12-2011, 08:56 PM

cool,
the only reason i ask is because the truck is being stored quite a ways from my shop (and the parts store) so the more that i can do on site the better. i just need to get er' going so i can do it properly when i get home

willett · 01-12-2011, 09:19 PM

i just had a revelation...

it IS HEI.

lol.

i'm going to head back down there on saturday and see what i can find

01-12-2011, 11:56 AM	#1
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	firing the beast up for the first time in about a year. Hey Guys the bad news: i have neglected my truck a bit and it has been parked for about a year, and i havent had the decency to crank it over in that time. the good news: i'm going to light er' up in the next couple days. i was thinking i would pull the batteries and put a trickle charge on em. once those are juiced up i will pull the primary lead from the distributor cap and crank er' for a few 20 second cycles to get some oil back up top. is this good enough procedure or should i be doing more? __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square"

01-12-2011, 12:27 PM	#2
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,736	Re: firing the beast up for the first time in about a year. Vancouver EH!!!! Wet environment. Not good. Before you pull the batteries bump the motor over just enough to see it turns. Pull the plugs and squirt a little oil in each cylinder. Put new plugs back in. Charge up your battery. Trickle charger is best. Give it a long charge. Splash a little gas in the carb so it will fire right away. OIl flow and pressure right away is good. After you get the old girl purring shut her down and change your oil. Acids build up in oil that sits too long causing premature bearing failure. Where in Van do you live?

01-12-2011, 05:22 PM	#3
terryj Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Medford, Oregon Posts: 139	Re: firing the beast up for the first time in about a year. Geezer, good advice, when i got my 83 Scottsdale it had been sitting in a barn for about 3 years. I had to drain the gas tanks and put in fresh fuel, changed the plugs and squirted a little oil in the cylinders. It fired right up, but the valve cover gaskets leaked long with the water pump gasket. No big deal in fixing them. The exhust was in real bad shape so I installed a set of Headmans and new exhaust, the truck purrs like a loud kitten.

01-12-2011, 05:55 PM	#4
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	Re: firing the beast up for the first time in about a year. hey geezer. i hail from north van. so i pulled the plug leads from the cap and cranked her about 5 or 6 20 second cycles and then put the plug leads back onto the cap. i put in some fresh gas on top of some old gas (there was very little left) and gave er' a go. it cranks like a hot damn but won't fire. i'm getting fuel at the carb and it passes the smell test if this is of much (or any) relevence. i couldn't check spark because i didn't have a helper. i'm going to go back on saturday with a buddy and give it another go. all that i can think is that the fuel in there is crappy and it doesn't want to fire on it, or i flooded it when i was cranking it initially. i picked up a can of carb medic but later realized it didn't contain any methinol. Its the methinol that gives the engine some "assistance" starting is it not? __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square" Last edited by willett; 01-12-2011 at 05:56 PM.

01-12-2011, 06:00 PM	#5
allengator Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Burleson, Texas Posts: 596	Re: firing the beast up for the first time in about a year. If the dizzy is not HEI, I would suspect points have corroded from sitting (my chevelle would do that if I let it sit any longer that 3 months) If it IS HEI, then I would suspect the ignition module... __________________ Allengator Outta the Blue (my band - available for hire in the DFW area!) 1980 Chevy SWB Pickup (build thread) 1951 Chevy Sedan Delivery 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71 2011 Harley Davidson Street Glide 2018 Silverado Z71 Crew Cab

01-12-2011, 08:51 PM	#6
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	Re: firing the beast up for the first time in about a year. hmm its not hei. i will take a look. is it possible to clean to points? __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square"

01-12-2011, 08:54 PM	#7
allengator Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Burleson, Texas Posts: 596	Re: firing the beast up for the first time in about a year. Yes... With a small needle file, but points are cheap... Posted via Mobile Device __________________ Allengator Outta the Blue (my band - available for hire in the DFW area!) 1980 Chevy SWB Pickup (build thread) 1951 Chevy Sedan Delivery 2004 Chevy Tahoe Z71 2011 Harley Davidson Street Glide 2018 Silverado Z71 Crew Cab

01-12-2011, 08:56 PM	#8
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	Re: firing the beast up for the first time in about a year. cool, the only reason i ask is because the truck is being stored quite a ways from my shop (and the parts store) so the more that i can do on site the better. i just need to get er' going so i can do it properly when i get home __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square"

01-12-2011, 09:19 PM	#9
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	Re: firing the beast up for the first time in about a year. i just had a revelation... it IS HEI. lol. i'm going to head back down there on saturday and see what i can find __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square"



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.