I've got another post about a radiator for this same truck deal but I figured seperate posts for seperate issues. I've got a I6 300 in a 85 f150 that's sat for 1 1/2 years now. It's at my dad's and he hasn't been starting it and keeping it up like he said he would when we took it over there. I was wondering what are some tricks to make sure that the seals and rings etc are not destroyed when I start it up for the first time and how many times I will need to repeat these tricks and things at first to make sure it isn't destroyed. If the engine's no good, then I'm not going to bother replacing all the body that was destroyed in the wreck.

So far we're planning on fresh oil, pulling the plugs and putting something (don't know what's best yet) in the plug holes to help the rings, and running a surrogate radiator to keep the water pump ok internally and flush out that system. It's a manual transmission and I don't know if I should expect any problems there or anywhere else. I think Dad drained the gas tank to use in something else becuz the tank was almost full when it was wrecked so fresh gas is a must and priming the carb a definant.

That's all that I can think of and this is my first time trying to bring back a sitting engine. Is there anything I'm missing???

 

Hi Connie,
You can also:


1) Turn the crank manually

2) Use a drill to prime the oil pump.

3) Turn the engine over with the starter without the coil wire attached before trying to start the engine.

4) Check for Mouse Houses

 

How do you use a drill to prime the oil pump?

Also, what's good to use to put in the spark plug holes to help the rings??

 

You can use Diesel fuel if it has been sitting in a humid climate.
I would use Marvels Mystery oil.

You can make an attachment with a hex socket & extension.

I would make sure the socket won't come off it though.

Or an old distributor shaft with the cam gear removed.

 

I'm in windy windy dry dusty West Tx so I'll go with the Marvel Mystery oil and thanks for the info on priming that oil pump. I never would have thought of that.

 

Yes, Marvel Mystery Oil works miracles on old engines!! Especially lawnmowers. Yes, priming the oil pump will prevent a "dry" start, therefore reducing the chance of messing something up.

Edit: Have a can of Carb Cleaner handy.

 

got the carb cleaner already.. just need the oil (have a filter), the marvel mystery stuff, gas and a surrogate radiator... i guess we'll see what happens this weekend!

 

Be careful when you're around that open carb.....you don't want a backfire injury.

 

You can just pull the top part of the air filter thing off and prime it then stick it back on long enough to turn it over etc etc.. it's not that bad, just a little extra motion.

 

Yeah, my daddy had a problem with a carb backfiring in his face when he was my age, (30 years ago, haha).

 

I've actually never had any problem with backfiring on anything that I was doing. My dad on the other hand, has set a few of those fire resistant things on the inside of the hood on fire before... maybe I won't ask him to help me... LOL