3/13/19:After my failed “First Start”, my new distributor parts arrived and I was anxious to install them. The distributor was pretty dirty so I figured it would be best to pull it from the engine. I disassembled the distributor down to the advance weights, cleaned out decades of old grease and dirt then reassembled. I tried to install the new Delco points and couldn’t get them to close. I removed them and reinstalled them a few times and it wasn’t going to work . I compared them to the old set and noticed that they were slightly different. arm was not bent properly. I needed another set of points that would take a few more days to get. Frustrating! I took the existing set, cleaned up the contacts, reset to .018” then installed the new condenser. I reinstalled the distributor, the new rotor and cap, rechecked the firing order then reinstalled the wires. The moment of truth. I stepped into the cab, pumped on the accelerator, pulled on the choke, turned on the ignition switch then hit the floor starter switch. Vroom! It started! A had a big grin on my face. Yea!Â
The engine was rebuilt by a previous owner and I didn’t know if a break-in procedure was performed, I decided to do the break in. I placed a stick between the seat box and the accelerator and brought the RPM’s up to 2,000 - 2,500 or so (I don’t have a tachometer), then set my timer. I was shooting for 25 minutes. The engine sounded great. I left the valve cover off so I could see if oil was getting the lifters and they were. It didn’t have any knocking and the valves lifters quieted down pretty quickly with no noticeable leaks. I kept an eye on the oil pressure and the temperature. The temperature peaked at about 180 and after 17 minutes the oil pressure dropped to about 15 lbs. This had me concerned so I shut her down, checked the oil and it wasn’t even on the dipstick. I had checked it before I started it and it was on the full mark. I needed to add oil so I decided it was best to just change it, that way I knew what I had. The oil looked a bit thin and had a strange smell to it. I don’t know if it was break-in oil from 5 years ago or it was diluted with old gas so changing it was the only way to go. I drained more than 6 qts of oil including what was contained in the by-pass filter. Off to the store again.
Later that day I checked the old condensor and found it to be defective. All that trouble for a tiny condenser.
Phil Moderator, The Engine Shop, Interiors and Project Journals
1952 Chevrolet 3100, Three on the Tree, 4:11 torque tube Updated to: ‘59 235 w/hydraulic lifters, 12v w/alternator, HEI, PCV and Power front Disc Brakes Project Journals Stovebolt Gallery Forum