VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1941 Start up.

Today is a big day for me and the 41. Friends will be over to help me start my rebuilt 41. I have procrastinated long enough, it is time to put my big boy pants on and do it. I will report back later. Wish me and the old 41 good luck, Thanks, Mike

Mike: Have fun today and keep us posted with your success in making that old Chevrolet run.

dtm

Charge the battery up good and go for it. Good Luck. Report back.

Sure wish I had an engine to start up... ;-) Good luck with it and hope all goes well! Put it on video and show us what happens.

We're all anxiously awaiting the sound of another 216......

Good luck Mike!!!!

Good luck with it. I'm confident that it will run like a Singer sewing machine. I hope you video it and post it so we can enjoy it with you.

Best, computer:

Hope all goes well Mike. I had to put 12 volts on my '31 when I first started it a few years ago. It was a little stiff.
Sid

Good luck with the start up, mike. Get r done and hoist some brews, Terry.

Notice the small gas tank above the engine by the carb. It worked well to fill up the carb and start the engine. Within a few seconds the gas pump was working so well that gas was spraying out of the breather hole in the lid of the tank. Might want to rethink this idea? All I can now think of is causing a fire! (My friend did have a fire extinguisher sitting right next to him.) I could have accomplished the same with just turning the engine over without the ignition on, and then looking down the throat of the carb as I moved the throttle to see if the gas was squirting into the intake manifold???


Well not a good day. A friend was over to help me and after a little final inspection and assembly we started the engine. It took about 6 tries to get the gas mixture/timing right and it took right off. It immediately had a loud squeal so we shut her down. I assume we had run her about 30 seconds at the most with the continuous squeal. We let her cool for 45 minutes, and removed the fan belt, encase the squeal was belt related, and started her again. It started immediately but still squealed so turned her right off. We had only run it about 10 seconds. Three hours later I decided to try her again after not hearing any noise while I turned her over with the ignition off to prelube the engine. Started up easily again but the squeal was still there. My friend feels I have a dry or too tight 1st bearing causing the squeal.

I am hoping I did no damage and will talk to the machine shop tomorrow. I did videotape the sound for the shop to hear!

The engine doesn't appear to be overly tight since once the timing was close it started easily off of my 6 volt battery.

I had used my electric drill to check oil pressure and get oil in the pan troughs and to lubricate the rocker area. I was producing 30 pounds of pressure with the drill and all but the first cylinder rocker assembly was getting oil. I oiled things on top with Marvel oil. I used a breakin oil in the oil pan and had made sure the block was filled with a water/antifreeze mixture as was the radiator.

The machine shop had tested the crank and bearings by running the crank with a large drill. I don't think they did it with the pistons in place.

As I inspected things I have found no leaks but was surprised to find that I was 10 to 12 ounces low on oil. The 5 quarts I had filled the pan up with were evidently not enough for a bone dry engine. I am thinking of turning over the engine again for a minute with the ignition off and then trying to start the engine again now that I have added oil to the full mark on the dip stick.

Think I will mow the lawn first and give her a test after supper. Thanks, Mike

Is it possible that the through out bearing is causing the noise? Maybe check clutch adjustment? Take the clutch inspection cover off and have a peek? Don

Hi Don, It will be a long time before I put the flywheel inspection cover on. I am going to keep a close eye on whether the rear seal leaks. I always start my car with the clutch pushed in so do not see the throw out bearing as the problem, nor can I imagine a loud squeal coming from it. I will be out of town until Thursday so will try starting the car in neutral to see if their is a difference. Thanks, for the suggestion, Mike

One thing I want to add was that I used the proper gauges to realign the spray nozzles of the oil pan so they should be getting oil to the bearings???

The engine takes 5 1/2 ots. after an overhaul, etc.
Just change it after 500 miles and don't add.
At the low speed you are rubnning the engine the troughs are providing the oil as the engine speed is too low for the pipes to squirt oil into the dippers.
Is the front timing cover seal making the noise?

Mike,

If the clutch is pushed in then the throw-out bearing is engaged. I would assume that you installed a new on before installing the engine, though. So that shouldn't be the cause of the squeal. Is there any play in the clutch pedal?

I can't imagine what is causing the squeal. Could be a main, rod bearing or wrist pin. Hope not.

Let us know what you find.

Good luck with it and I hope the problem is minor.

Best,
Charlie

If a main bearing was that tight the 6 volt will not have spun over the engine.
The rings could be dry. Try pouring some thin oil through the carb. air horn with the engine running....will cause exhaust smoke.

Good idea Gene, I never prelubed the cylinder walls because I assumed they were well lubed from the machine shop. It has been 6 months since they returned the engine so I should have taken the extra precaution. I think I will take the plugs out and give each cylinder a good bath of Marvel Mystery Oil. Then turn the car over with the ignition off three or four times, then reinstall the plugs and start her up. I will add more Mystery oil when I get it running through the carb.

Should I be worried that the rocker arm shaft doesn't seem to be getting lubrication to the number one cylinder rocker arms?

Will be out of town until Thursday, so will not try anything until the weekend.

Thanks for all the suggestions, Mike

P.S. I hate to admit it but I also have a transmission linkage problem. The car is not going into neutral so I can not roll it by myself, and need someone to be pushing the clutch in to move it. I must have the neutral linkage a couple of turns out of adjustment. Should be easy to fix, but just another indication that you can not be too careful!

I have never named my car, but maybe it is time to. She does have a mind of her own. Charlie could you help me out?

Mike, 'Sorry you continue to have problems.

Just as a suggestion, you might get the tranny in neutral and turn the engine by hand while you have the plugs out. You need it in neutral so you can listen for the throwout bearing anyway (I hope that is your noise).

FWIW, my throwout bearing is new and is making a noise (it isn't really loud). The PO's mechanic left the throwout bearing riding on the clutch (constantly) and failed to install the clutch pedal return spring . It wasn't run very far that way but perhaps that ruined the bearing or perhaps it was NOS and the grease had dried in it (or both?).
Just my dumb luck!

'Hope it is something very simple.

Good luck

Gaither

A name? Well, Tiny has already got "Sweetie" so we'll have to come up with something else. Hmmm.

How about Rocinante. That was the name of Don Quixote's horse. It was a low class horse he had, but to him, in his deranged mind, it was great steed. Look it up.

You're welcome.
Charlie

Any indication where the squeal is coming from...?

Thanks Charlie, I will keep this short since I am now in the Don's dungeon. I need a two or less syllable name for ease of remembering, and also a name I can explain in less than two sentences. Remember I am 65 and ...

Kevin, I am going with Gene's suggestion, but my friend thought the sound was coming from #1 cylinder. Being the smart guy I am when he suggested taking the spark plug wire off the cylinder and listening again I said, #naw". Which means "no" in Mike English. I was concerned it would just complicate getting the car started!!!

Before the guards come for me I am signing off. Best wishes all, Mike

Thanks Charlie, I will keep this short since I am now in the Don's dungeon. I need a two or less syllable name for ease of remembering, and also a name I can explain in less than two sentences. Remember I am 65 and ...

Kevin, I am going with Gene's suggestion, but my friend thought the sound was coming from #1 cylinder. Being the smart guy I am when he suggested taking the spark plug wire off the cylinder and listening again I said, #naw". Which means "no" in Mike English. I was concerned it would just complicate getting the car started!!!

Before the guards come for me I am signing off. Best wishes all, Mike

Gosh darn, Mike! You must be getting old to write the same thing twice like that... Just call your car "Ole Fut"; since it's older than you are.

Good news today. I squirted Marvel Mystery Oil into each cylinder (5 good squirts , 10 in the first cylinder), turned the engine over for about 30 seconds, reinstalled the plugs and started the engine. It fired right up, smoked for the minute I ran it, then I turned it off and let it sit for an hour. I restarted it and ran it for about 2 minutes without a problem. By the time I turned it off it was not smoking. I will try it again for a longer period a little later. I don't think the thermostat has kicked in, so the engine is getting hot. Will watch the temperature gauge. The oil pressure has been over 15 so that seems normal to me.

I still have not figured out why the transmission is not going into neutral. I am adjusting the neutral lever, but only a little at a time. I didn't take the transmission apart so it should not be the problem, and I cannot see the universal joint or clutch/pressure plate/throwout bearing being the problem. Seems it has to be the linkage.

All my buddies are busy today so maybe I will not do any timing or clutch adjusting until tomorrow.

Whow, I just remembered I am married! I can get my boss to help me!!!

Thanks for any suggestions, Mike

Get a box fan in front of the car and turn it on high, the extra air helps keep things cool. Glad to hear the noise is gone.

Another good start up. Ran the engine for about 3 minutes saw same oil pressure but got it to 180 degrees in a hurry then dropped to about 160-170 as thermostat kicked in. I think the timing is definitely not right for the temp to go up so fast, and for the engine to run a little rough. Will set a fan in front of the radiator as Don suggested. Lost about a cup of antifreeze as I shut the engine off. Will let her cool off for an hour or so then mess with the timing a little and see how she runs. No sign of the squeal that I originally had. Thanks a lot Gene for your suggestion. Am also keeping the RPM high and only idling before I shut the car off for a few seconds.

Thanks, Mike