Starting new engine today - any advice

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I have finally got to the point where I can try to start my rebuilt engine today. It has been setting for about 18 months. All the fluids are in and the timing is set. My plan is as follows; squirt some oil down the spark plug holes, turn the engine over until oil pressue light goes out, install the plugs, arm myself with some cold starting fluid, and cross my fingers. Any other advice to help this process along?

Thanks,
Doug

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I sure hope the oil pump has been primed. I pack all pumps with Vasoline. If not primed it will not pick up the oil, and good thing you said you will spin it till oil light goes out for if you started it the bearings would be ruined. Walt.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Doug-

    Sounds like you are all ready well-armed. Keep us posted on the progress, and congratulations!

    Walt-

    As a matter of curiosity, why Vaseline instead of grease?
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    What type of engine? Step-down or splasher?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Stepdown. 54 Hornet Special with the 308 and Twin H. Darn thing won't start. I have checked everything; timing, fuel supply, spark, etc. The battery is new but it doesn't seem to crank the engine fast enough. Can I jump it with a 12 volt battery?
  • Ol racer
    Ol racer Senior Contributor
    edited December 2010
    FYI

    Couple suggestions....
    You may have flooded it. Remove the plugs to see if wet. If so clean them and re install. Perhaps Re check your firing order by Removing #1 S/Plug and crank #1 up unto blows thumb off hole then check ...
    If you have 6V jumping with 12V will fry your coil and/OR points. Suggest buying a 60's era Chevy or Mopar Coil & Resistor then wire in-between the coil + Leads before jumping. Naturally remove it afterwards if retain 6 volts. I prefer 12V in my Hudson's

    Lastly, The 6v Starter cranks faster and holds up as long as not cranked very long to get hot....
    Good Luck
  • onerare39
    onerare39 Expert Adviser, Member
    edited December 2010
    Doug,

    Check with someone in the Northwest Chapter to see if they can locate Fred Connors, he can sort it out for you. He believe has been up in the Northwest lately.

    Oops... I'm assuming that you are in Portland, Oregon !

    John
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    If its cranking slow and you have a fully charged 6V battery make sure all of your ground connections are solid. Poor grounding will have the starter rotate slowly.

    Being its a rebuilt engine you can expect it to be a little tight at first. And give that point gap another check to make sure its gapped right.
  • GrimGreaser
    GrimGreaser Senior Contributor
    Have your 6V battery checked. I know a guy restoring a early Willys Jeep who could not get his rebuilt engine started, cranked real slow, like the engine wa too tight. Well, his brand new 6V battery was bad when he got it. The 6V batteries tend to sit on the shelves quite a long time these days.
  • Lee ODell
    Lee ODell Senior Contributor
    edited December 2010
    I also had a bad experinence with a new battery.

    I took a new 6V battery with me to Las Vegas when I went to pick up the 52 Hornet I bought a couple of months ago, just in case I needed it. The battery in the Hornet was bad so in went my new battery. It would not even crank the engine over. It wouldn't even take a recharge. Went to town and bought a new battery from the Interstate Battery Wherehouse. It then cranked faster than any 6V powered car I have had.

    I would check for poor battery cable ground connection first though.

    Lee O'Dell

    Forgot to mention that the battery I took with me was already one year old when I bought it. Didn't think to double check the date when I bought it. Just goes to show that you can never assume anything.
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    After checking all the great things mentioned above.. make sure you don't have it timed 180 degrees out and set on #6.. It's VERY easy to do..:ohmy:
  • kamzack
    kamzack Senior Contributor
    Don't use start fluid, can cause more harm than good.

    Kim
  • RonS
    RonS Senior Contributor
    my first guess would be timing, but tight engine could slow things down. Do you have one of those green wheel( or any ) battery quick disconnects? They are a big current bottleneck. What size battery cables do you have? oo is the best for 6v, if you got them locally and don't know,they might be for a 12volt system, and your cables will restrict current to the starter. Add that to a new tight engine, and the engine will not spin fast enough to send a good spark to the coil. Pull the coil wire from the distributor, hold it close to a good ground (head bolt), crank the starter, A nice bluish gold arc should appear.Lets see & move on from there.
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