20year old engine - checklist to get going again?
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7th Gear
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7
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20year old engine - checklist to get going again?
I just purchased a '71 that has been sitting in a garage since 1976 and hasn't been started since then. In the mid 80's, the engine was pulled and completely gone through and re-installed, but the owner never finished and since it was rebuilt, it has never had fuel or been started. I was wondering if somoene had a checklist that I should go through of things to check prior to seeing if it starts. Obviously, I'd like to put fresh oil, coolant, gas, but what else should I check prior to turning the key?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,036
Likes: 79
From: central FL, near the beach.
i'd pull it out and look for bubba mistakes.
and upgrade where necessary.
bubba tried to start it, but when flames shot out the carb, they gave up.
and upgrade where necessary.
bubba tried to start it, but when flames shot out the carb, they gave up.
Last edited by Matt Gruber; Feb 21, 2008 at 02:58 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,991
Likes: 3
From: Piscataway NJ
What do you mean by never finished? And gone through?
Depending how it was stored. I would pull the plugs and see if you can rotate the crank. Use a socket and breaker bar on the front crank bolt. If it is free shoot some oil down the cylinders. You should also prime the oil system. It's a crap shoot for an engine that sat for that lenght of time. But I lucked out on one that sat for 16yrs.
Depending how it was stored. I would pull the plugs and see if you can rotate the crank. Use a socket and breaker bar on the front crank bolt. If it is free shoot some oil down the cylinders. You should also prime the oil system. It's a crap shoot for an engine that sat for that lenght of time. But I lucked out on one that sat for 16yrs.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
From: Ventura California
What do you mean by never finished? And gone through?
Depending how it was stored. I would pull the plugs and see if you can rotate the crank. Use a socket and breaker bar on the front crank bolt. If it is free shoot some oil down the cylinders. You should also prime the oil system. It's a crap shoot for an engine that sat for that lenght of time. But I lucked out on one that sat for 16yrs.
Depending how it was stored. I would pull the plugs and see if you can rotate the crank. Use a socket and breaker bar on the front crank bolt. If it is free shoot some oil down the cylinders. You should also prime the oil system. It's a crap shoot for an engine that sat for that lenght of time. But I lucked out on one that sat for 16yrs.
