Been busy the past week. I read through the starting a dead engine Tech Tip and got my truck ready to do just that. I completely flushed the cooling system. Installed a battery and new positive cable. Pulled the spark plugs and cleaned them up. I put some Marvel Mystery Oil in each cylinder and put the plugs back in. I loved this part because I got to use an old oil can that I had just picked up at an estate sale, so that was cool (pic down below). I replaced the coil, points and condenser. I took the carb apart and cleaned it out real well. I took the valve cover off and put some 10W-30 on top of everything. The oil pan was full and the oil was cleaner than I thought it would be.
Since I have no keys, I had to hot wire it to start, and I put a switch in the hot wire from the starter to the coil. The fuel system got completely bypassed and I don't have a small gas tank and hoses to feed the carb, so I just filled the carb with gas and let it go as long as it would. This was my first attempt at anything like this so I was a bit nervous. I had a fire extinguisher ready just in case, lol. It fired up pretty well, but didn't run too long; I have no idea how much gas a carb uses when it's working but I'm sure that's why it wouldn't run any longer than it did.
I found out what I wanted to know though. It sounded GREAT. For a truck that has been sitting since 1980 it started and ran WAY better than I thought it would. No knocks, taps or anything like that. I was hoping I wouldn't have to rebuild the engine to get it going and it looks like I don't. Next step is replacing the fuel lines, rebuilding the fuel pump, cleaning the tank and reinstalling it. Here is a link to the video of it starting up:
First Engine Start
