engine starting after 1.5 years without being cranked
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Where are the Smoky Mountain Cruisers? Not Correctly Restored Stingray
engine starting after 1.5 years without being cranked
My car has been sitting in the basement garage for 1.5 years without having the engine cranked. I've been reworking my suspension, brakes and had the gas tank out to find a leak (vapor separator was leaking) What steps should I take to get it running again?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Where are the Smoky Mountain Cruisers? Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Race Director
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For the Nervous Nellies, (careful, Mr. Nasty!) GM never pre-oiled engines. They stuck it on the test stand and fired it up. Despite this horrid abuse, they usually ran only a few hundred thousand miles before needing an overhaul.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Sierra Foothills CA
I wouldn't consider it necessary to pull the distributor and prime the oil pump but if that's no big deal to you then go for it- that's the safest way to get oil pressure before starting. Otherwise turn the motor over until you have oil pressure showing on your gauge and then fire it up. It's turning a lot slower via the starter than it will when it fires up so that's better for it than a start without pumping oil through the system first.
Last edited by Les; Mar 12, 2011 at 11:00 AM.
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Race Director
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Turning it on the starter only just prolongs the period with little or no oil pressure.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,455
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From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
Absolutely correct! Just fire it up-1.5 years is nothing and most of the suggestions above are not necessary after that short of time. maybe I would crank it for 10 seconds at a time without letting it fire until oil pressure shows on the dash gauge and then let it rip.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,455
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From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
Sorry Mike but I will have to disagree. Spinning the motor slowly with out firing for a 5 seconds at a time until you have some oil pressure is better than firing the engine when cold with zero oil pressure, zero oil coating anything internally after 1.5 years, and having the engine racing at 900-1,200 fast idle with no oil pressure for 3-5 seconds until pressure builds is NOT a better option. 90% of engine wear occurs at startup and most of that is cold starting much less cold starting after 1.5 years. I have been doing this technique on my 78 for 28 years after prolonged periods of not starting the engine-engine is perfect! Certainly will not hurt anything but may work the starter a bit-my starter is the OEM starter BTW!
Last edited by jb78L-82; Mar 12, 2011 at 11:31 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,070
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From: N.Richland Hills Texas
For the Nervous Nellies, (careful, Mr. Nasty!) GM never pre-oiled engines. They stuck it on the test stand and fired it up. Despite this horrid abuse, they usually ran only a few hundred thousand miles before needing an overhaul.[/QUOTE]
The engines were built using lubes and oils that had not "run" off the metal yet...
The engines were built using lubes and oils that had not "run" off the metal yet...
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 497
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From: Streator Illinois
I once had a junkyark 350 sitting for twice that long and when I tore it down for a rebuild, there was still an oil film on the crank and rod bearings. Make sure you have fresh gas and start it!
Terry
Terry
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
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From: Orange Park Florida
Eh, no biggie, decades ago I started my mother's '63 Olds F85 after setting some 25 years in the garage, unused....
getting the running gear in order...carb/brakes/ign was more than the actual start/run....the oil and coolant were fine....aluminum engine, brass radiator and all....
drove it around for a month until sold....
even the auto tranny was fine....
but the underframe/chassis was gross with condensate rust....
getting the running gear in order...carb/brakes/ign was more than the actual start/run....the oil and coolant were fine....aluminum engine, brass radiator and all....
drove it around for a month until sold....
even the auto tranny was fine....
but the underframe/chassis was gross with condensate rust....
Race Director
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