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Cal-look/High Performance => Technical stuff => Topic started by: JezWest on November 14, 2021, 10:45:19 am



Title: Starting engine after being out of the car for a year
Post by: JezWest on November 14, 2021, 10:45:19 am
I've had the engine out of my car for about a year. I've had the gearbox rebuilt and tidied up lots of other things - the engine is almost the only thing I haven't touched. It is going back in today. Whilst out of the car it has been stored in the dry, with the oil still in and the external filter still connected. I removed the plugs, sprayed a bit of WD40 in the cylinders, turned the motor a bit, put the plugs back in loosely. Repeated that every so often. There's loads of little things to do before I try and start it and I've been thinking about the best way to do that. I think I have two issues:


1) The fuel is a year old.

I think I'll get a couple of gallons of super and stick it in the tank (which only has a gallon or so in it) to liven it up a bit.


2) All the oil will be in the sump, nowhere near all things which need oil.

How about this:

plugs out - greatly reduces the load on the rod bearings
rocker shafts out - removes the load on the cam

Spin the motor over on the starter to get oil through all the galleys and splashing about. Likely won't see any oil pressure build up.

Rocker shafts back in, check lash.

Spin the motor over to get oil pressure.

Spark plugs back in.

Re-enable the fuel pump / coil.

Check fuel goes where it should and not where it shouldn't.

Start. Hopefully!

Once it starts, I'll hold it at fast idle for a few minutes to get the oil moving everywhere as soon as possible.

Shut off and breathe again.


For info: motor is Type 1 1776, deep sump, Engle 120, Heads have double springs, Dellorto DRLAs. The carbs have been drained of fuel and stored dry. I'll check the floats move and the needles work before refitting.

Any other tips gratefully received.


Now to the garage!


Title: Re: Starting engine after being out of the car for a year
Post by: max Der Bahnstormerz on November 16, 2021, 23:22:56 pm
Grease the spigot bearing!


Title: Re: Starting engine after being out of the car for a year
Post by: brewsy on November 19, 2021, 22:35:48 pm
Jez,
Thats a lot of work but sounds excellent wrt preservation.

Only difference Id make would be to not shut it off, if its leak free, and rather run it up to temperature to then burn off any condensation etc in the crankcase and if possible go for a short burn so you put it back under load.
Then come back to base and drop the oil for fresh stuff.

Job done.


Title: Re: Starting engine after being out of the car for a year
Post by: JezWest on November 21, 2021, 22:00:52 pm
Cool, thanks. Better get my ass back in the garage...