VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Started my motor for the first time tonight.

First thing I would like to do is thank every single person on this site for everything you have helped me learn and all the advice I've gotten.

My brother is a excellent "motor head" who when he was younger built and raced Chevy small blocks. He has come the last two days for an hour or so and helped me get my motor ready to start. I originally had great compression in all cylinders but #3 and got a little worried. As most of you know I bought this car with the motor on a dolly, looking like it had been rebuilt but it was unknown if it was. I could see what appeared to be a nice shiny new head gasket under the push rod cover and new green valve seals but it had also sat outside under a tarp for over 2 years.

My brother told me to soak the valve stems with oil and to fog the cylinders with fogging oil, turn the motor over with the starter, then let it sit overnight. He felt that one of #3's valves probably had a ridge of light rust on it and it just wasn't closing. Well the following day I had some compression but not at much as all the others. He came over and again we adjusted the valve finding the #3 exhaust valve now had no clearance and with more turning over and sitting another day it was the same as the rest.

I installed the electro-lock in the distributor which I might add is a PITA to get that damn nut on. Wired up the coil, and made a temporary dash with my choke and throttle cables along with the electro-lock. We figured we could control the retard by hand for now. I also put a gas can on the fuel line, hooked up my brake vaccum, and pulled gas through the pump to the carb fitting. I then installed the line on the carb and turned the motor over a few times to fill the bowl.

Using my continuity meter we set the timing as close as possible at 18d and tightened the clamp on the distributor. Feeling that we were ready to go, my brother then had me, using a 10cc syringe, squirt 5cc in each cylinder. I then installed the plugs and hooked up all the plug wires.

With my brother pushing the starting pedal and manually retarding the spark, I was 1/2 choking and getting ready on the throttle. The motor turned over about 1 1/2 revolutions and started right up! It ran perfectly with no issues. Nice and quiet and 17lbs of oil pressure at not much more than idle. With no water of course we didn't run it long but we know it runs and starts really good and it adjusted enough to go from there once it goes together for good. For not knowing what it would do I can say it was quite a relief when it lit up so easy and sounded so good. Had the muffler attached with no tail pipe and it was super quiet. No smoke or gas smell either. Sorry for the long post but I'm pretty excited and wanted to share. Again, thanks to all of you for helping to make this happen without any issues.
Ted

Glad to hear of your success and excitement. Been tnere myself.
And lucky to have a knowledgeable brother also.

You did good! Congrats!!

Happy for you.i remember the mixture of excitement and anxiety.thank you for sharing.

Felt the same way when I started my '31 motor for the first time after going through the motor. Babbitt on the rods weren't the best but at 30 mph it's up and running and we're enjoying it for the last 5 years.

Great news! Glad to hear it's all OK.

All the Best, Chip

I'd be handing out cigars ! Congrats !!

Glad it all worked out. There will be plenty more great times as the assembly and restoration continue. A few lower moments too. The best is the first ride around the block.

Congratulations, there nothing like starting an old engine that hadn't run for years!

Thanks guys. It sure is good and more good to come as more gets done.
Ted

Congrats !!

Sure it felt AWESOME, i know If I could have done Back Flips I would Have when I Started my 29 !!

Only thing better is the Maiden Voyage... No Smile Bigger than that !!

Congrats!!!!!


--Bill B