I am ready to fire the 351 in my frame as I would like to see if all is ok prior to assembly. I am concerned that I could cause damage to the AOD (non electronic from a Tbird) . what precautions should I take while starting the engine? I have a plug in the rear as the drive shaft is not installed and will be adding as much trans fluid as it willl hold prior to starting. If I keep the trans in park or neutral and do not rev the engine will I be safe to run the engine for a short while? Thanks

 

Hey dude, I too will be starting my 351 W soon.(It's been along time comming) anyway you definately want to make sure you've put about 3 quarts of trans fluid in your touque convertor before you installed it to the engine also you want to make sure you've got the torque convertor turned and pushed back 3 clicks and make sure it engages the pump!! On a side note, you want to make sure you've taken the distributor out of the engine and primed the engine with a drill to insure you have got oil psi in the top of the engine. You will also want to have the timing as close to correct as possible of the engine.You want this engine to start immediately!!! If you have a carb from a engine that's currently runnin that will bolt to this engine, you might want to use it.I cant' stress it enough you want this sucker to start as soon as possible!! you also want to loop your trans cooler lines together to keep from pumpin all your trans out on the floor.I also want to warn you as to not let the engine idle at all! You'll want to keep it between 1500 RPM's and 2500 RPM's for about 20 to 30 minutes.Camshafts aren't flame hardened and the first start up will determine the life of the cam. You need to have a radiator, and the fan and belt on the water pump so you can let the thing run for this break in period.Immediately after this initial start up you'll want to change your oil and filter and look at the oil making sure you don't have any shavings in it.As for your AOD it won't hurt it to let it run, but if you're still worried I'd just leave the torque convertor out and just use the trans for the starter mount!! It don't have to be in there to start the engine. When you get around to setting the TV pressure, I got a guy who is real sharp on that too.I think if I were you, I'd just leave the torque convertor out after I thought about it? Sometimes things come to me as I'm typing? GO figure

 

Thanks for the words of wisdom, I need to clarify a little, This is not a new engine although it has not run in about 3 years. It was orginally in one of Ricky Craven's NASCAR show cars. Not a race engine just a rebuilt (by Jasper) so it was run very little as you can imagine. My big concern is the problems I have heard of concerning the pressure in the trans not being correct and harming the trans. Also the radiator is in place with the trans cooler lines running to the cooler in the bottom of the radiator. So if it's not too much trouble please advise based upon these new conditions, thanks so much.

 

Make sure the fluid level is good, plug the tailshaft, leave it in park, you'll be fine.
Jeff

 

Yeah, what he said is ok.When you get ready to adjust the TV pressure, let me know. The best way is with a pressure gauge to get it exactly right.There is a forum called network54 smallblock windsor forum. It deals primarily with small block ford enines, but at the bottom of the page is a list of sponsers, and there is a good trans forum to click on.They are very knowledgeable and very nice!! Good Luck!! You should still try to find some oil with ZDDP in it, as the hippy tree huggers are trying to do away with it, it supposedly destroys cat convertors on the newer cars.The down side is without zinc a flat tappet cam don't last as long.They tell me that Shell Rotela still has it in it? I'm not sure about that.Also use a good oil filter from a "real" parts house, not a Fram one from wally world or the junk Auto Zone sells.Get a Hastings or a Wix, as the cheaper ones from the off brands tend to come apart.I've seen it happen.


Later

 

thanks I'll keep you in mind for the pressure setting.