The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop '52 216 -Startup after rebuild

I believe your 52 is a low pressure splash engine. If so the oil galleys (troughs) are in the oil pan. The rod dippers scoop oil out of them as the engine rotates. If they don't have oil in them the rod bearings could be damaged from running dry. The dipstick showing full won't tell you if the troughs have oil in them or not. The troughs sit well above the oil level in the pan. The best way I know of to prevent damage is to use a good assembly lube when putting the engine back together so the bearings won't be running dry, waiting for the troughs to fill. Someone else may have a better idea but for me, not knowing if assembly lube had been used, I'd pull the plugs so the engine will crank faster (the oil pump will pump oil faster), and crank the engine for a while without the key on. Don't crank it more than 30 seconds at a time so you don't get the starter too hot. Do that a few times to get some oil to the troughs then run the engine slow at first when you finally do start it.