Starting my engine for the very first time. Any tips or suggestions?

[Hazieview]

Well... After 5 long years it is finally time to start my truck for the first time.

I have a fire extinguisher and my wife has 911 on speed dial.

My plans are to prime the carb, fire it up, rev the engine above 1500 rpms for around 15 or 20 minutes. Shut it down.

Any other tweaks that you make?

Thanks!

[old Rusty C10]

yeah make sure that you have oil pressure before you try to crank it.. in fact change the oil and filter then crank it without fuel to get the pressure up then put the plugs in and fire away

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by old Rusty C10

yeah make sure that you have oil pressure before you try to crank it.. in fact change the oil and filter then crank it without fuel to get the pressure up then put the plugs in and fire away

x2. Good plan.

K

[Hazieview]

How long should I have to turn the engine over until I see pressure? I have electric gauges for the first time so I'm not fully confident in them yet.

Also is it ok to do this with the plugs in because they are already installed.

Thanks!
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[INSIDIOUS '86]

Dont put your head over the carb if it may possibly backfire and blow your eybrows off haha
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[Hazieview]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

Dont put your head over the carb if it may possibly backfire and blow your eybrows off haha
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I actually work with a guy who's brother did that. He ended up being ok but they said he looked pretty funny with no eyebrows. Haha
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[88Jimmy4x4]

is this a brand new engine?

[crewcabsquared]

If it is a new engine with a flat tappet cam, make sure and use some break in oil. The oil they sell in the parts stores today doesnt have the zinc and other ingredients to break in the cam. There were a lot of guys losing cams on the break-in around here til we figured this out. Joe Gibbs Racing Oils makes an excellent break-in oil.

[Hazieview]

This is a bran new rebuilt engine with zddp mixed in with the oil
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[NorthwestGrudgeRacer]

Prime the oil pump.. Bring it on tdc put the dizzy in and fire it up... RPM 2000 for 15 to 20 mins. Some run no water for the first few mins and then add water

[gchemist]

Borrow a priming tool! Prime it really good using a 1/2" drill. Priming will help oil everything before start up. It can take up to 30 sec for complete oil flow throughout the engine. Priming the carb helps too. You can pour a little fuel down the intake too.

[king-918]

Everyone forgot the most important one RECORD THE VIDEO!
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[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by NorthwestGrudgeRacer

Prime the oil pump.. Bring it on tdc put the dizzy in and fire it up... RPM 2000 for 15 to 20 mins. Some run no water for the first few mins and then add water

exactly....prime the oil pump, dont just pull plugs and turn it over a few times as stated way above

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

Dont put your head over the carb if it may possibly backfire and blow your eybrows off haha
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Originally Posted by Hazieview

I actually work with a guy who's brother did that. He ended up being ok but they said he looked pretty funny with no eyebrows. Haha
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I did that, too.

We were at the track in Atlanta with a new engine; trying to get the Dominator carb baselined. I cranked the engine just as my builder was looking down the carb bores and bumping the accelerator pumps and FOOF it burped and got him.

Singed half his beard and one of his eyebrows but he was ok.

In rememberance of the occasion he had his helmet painted like this:

[BigBlocksRule]

Get a good timing light and set it as soon as it' running!!!
Get a big box fan and use it to blow through the radiator.
Engines get hotter on their first fire-up than any other time due to the increased friction while parts are getting to know each other. Be aware that it may go over 220* - if it's not much, don't worry about it, it should come right down.
Vary the revs from 1500 to 2 grand or so.
It will smoke a bit at first, you'll know the rings have seated/sealed when this stops.

Once it's broken in for the required 20 minutes or so, change the oil and filter and go beat on it a bit. It takes combustion pressure to really get the rings pushed against the cylinder walls for a good break-in and you ain't gonna get that by ***** footing around. Hit it hard to about 5 grand or so, then dump the throttle and let it coast back down. Do this 3 or 4 times and your rings should be well seated and the smoking should stop.
No 6 grand blips until you have a couple of hundred miles on it, it takes several heat/cool cycles to get everything stabilized.
Then....HAMMAH DOWN!!!

[Hazieview]

It was also suggest that I pull the plugs and squirt a little bit of marvels mystery oil on top of the pistons? Anyone against that? I have a pruning tool so I will for sure prime the engine too.
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[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by Hazieview

It was also suggest that I pull the plugs and squirt a little bit of marvels mystery oil on top of the pistons? Anyone against that? I have a pruning tool so I will for sure prime the engine too.
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I would just squirt whatever oil you plan on running in the engine.

Also, just run distilled water in the radiator etc, no anit-freeze or plain water. This too will need to be drained.

[jrblanke]

When I primed my engine it took a little bit before I saw oil run ooze out of the push rods. Also, I used a garden hose to mist water over the front of the radiator when it got over 220-230 degrees. Just a spritz of water, not enough to drench the radiator. Of course that is in addition to the water that is already circulating inside the radiator.

[Hazieview]

Well the mystery oil is suppose to be better because its a 'fuel side' oil. Better on your spark plugs than just plain oil.

Also, I am running water hose water in the radiator and I have dual electric fans. This will be a goid test to see if they come on too.

Anything else? I like all the info! Thanks!
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[88Jimmy4x4]

Originally Posted by Hazieview

Well the mystery oil is suppose to be better because its a 'fuel side' oil. Better on your spark plugs than just plain oil.

Also, I am running water hose water in the radiator and I have dual electric fans. This will be a goid test to see if they come on too.

Anything else? I like all the info! Thanks!
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sounds like you got all the answers......good luck