VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 fire up

I now have my 33 6 wheel Master in my possession.
Turns out it is not frozen as I had originally thought. I am itching to hear it run. I know it has not run since 1961. I'm interested in any sage advice from you experienced hands on starting cars after so many years. I plan to fill the radiator,change the oil, throw in new plugs, points, cap, rotor, and points. Should I add some oil to the cylinders? Any one have any additional preparations they would suggest? :) :)

Please be sure that you pull the sparkplugs, squirt some oil or W-D 40 in each cylinder, pull the valve cover, oil each valve stem and rocker, check for a stuck valve stem in the guide, if there is a stuck valve it can bend a push rod or cause other damage, turn the engine over several times with the hand crank or starter ( with coil wire disconnected) and SPARKPLUGS OUT! BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO START!

Thanks MrMack. I was thinking about those kinds of things, confirmation is much appreciated.

Brotherskeeper

Anything you can do to prevent damage to the old gal will be appreciated and she will repay you with a healthy hot water six cylinder roar, once she comes to life!

A tip I got a few years ago has proven to be a godsend. Instead of regular oil or WD-40 or penetrating oil try GM type automatic transmission fluid ATF. It has better penetrating properties than crankcase oil and better lubriction than penetrating oils. I keep an oil can with ATF handy and use it often.

Thanks CC, I had also heard it was better for cleaning up cruded up rings also, I will try some, I just wish it smelled as good as Marvel Mystery oil! Yuuummmm! Yuuuummm! :love:

Hey Mr. Mack, dab a little MMO on the end of your nose when using the ATF and you will never know the difference!

Thanks Glyn, I often do that when I "Go out" with the Big Dog crowd,(very seldom) they are still wondering what part of Paris I order my "Co-log-nee'" from.....

Guess I'll be patient with her and resist the temptation to fire too hastily. The top end "looks" ok ...... now for the bottom end.

Again thanks for the advice.

Anything else anyone?

Brothers keeper

Naturally the float in the carb is going to stick and you'll get an awesome amount of smoke, if it fires at all!! So, before you try to start it (if you didn't rebuild the carb) think about some carb cleaner and tap the side of it with a mallot until you can hear rattling inside... :eek:

When you start it, keep the radiator cap OFF. And keep your finger in the water.... any finger.

Squirt some erl down the distributor shaft... or some of that new-fangled ATF that Chip mentioned. I recently sheared a distributor gear due to lack of grease.

Removing the oil pan is a great idea since that's how I usually first discover my missing babbet pieces.

Check your dwell before you try to start the engine... a common misconception is that you need the engine running in order to see this... WRONG! Just turn it over with the coil wire removed.

Oh... one final thing... check the nut (you) behind the steering wheel shortly after the engine starts... don't let it get too inebriated celebrating the new sounds!!

hey bill, when are you coming to my house to tune my engine. I cant get the dog to come by, :arrow: he cant leave elvira by herself, poor dog is hog tied? :arrow: :arrow:

Just fied up a 32 engine that had sat in what looks like a mud pile. The first thing I did was to load up all the cyl's with wd40, then I let it sit overnight, again loaded the cyl's with MM oil.
Removed the rocker arms and push rods and oiled up all the valve stems with wd40 and with a brass drift started checking for stuck valves. I found 3 sticking and if I had tried to turn over the engine would have bent some push rods. The carb was off so I installed one of a later model I had in the shop,new plugs,points cond. Made sure it turned over by hand, then with the starter(plugs removed) primed it and it fired off like a charm.
One puff of smoke and it runs like a new one.
Will be doing a 49 216 soon,will keep you posted.
The 49 engine has not been started since 1982.

Leo

Leo, I really hate to admit to doing this but back in 1986 I fired up a 216 after it had set no telling how long. The previous owner told me "It ran fine for me, I just fired it up a couple of months ago." It was clean on the outside, so I tunes it up pulled the plugs, squirted WD-40 in the plug holes spun it around, set the dwell, changed the oil and coolant, primed it and started it up, Blam! Bang!, Pop!, pow!, pop! I never checked to see if a valve was stuck. 4 were and I replaced 4 push rods and a couple of valves. If I had of done the tap, tap with a brass hammer it would have saved me some parts and several hours. That's why I always try to reply to someone that asks about fireing up an engine that is an "unknown".

Hi Leo,

Would you consider coming to work for me? For the life of me I can't get them to run after taking the plugs out.

(Don't mean to rub it in, but I knew what was unwritten and between the lines)

LOL

Ray, Sometimes I get ahead of myself, guess its old age or the CRS in me. You caught me....now I really have to be careful before I hit the reply button...I know your watching..Hum :o

Leo

Thank you to all responderson this topic. One clarification though: Does the MMO go on my nose or the nose of the eagle on the radiator.

I'll keep you all posted on the old girls progress.

Brotherskeeper