The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Proper way to prime fuel lines on a 57 3100 V8 ?

Well I finally got some time an installed my NOS fuel pump.

Went and added some thread sealant to some of the fuel line connections on the carb and glass bulb style fuel filter and hard lines and let it all set 4 or more days before adding fuel back in.

It sucked up the fuel in a jiffy and started right up and idled nicely. Even ran nice when hitting the throttle.

I drove it out of the garage into the driveway. First time it has moved in 18 months! I let it burn some of the new engine paint off.


I had been rewiring everything, new harness and all and repainting interior and engine bay. Also had been working on implementing a PCV valve in the rear of a valve cover and trying to fix some coolant weeping under the valve covers and reinstalled the intake manifold and installed a new water pump and new plug wires, and a new rebuilt generator and lower pulley, new gas tank, etc etc.

Bunch of other stuff like a restored seat and pads and cover and firewall cover and steering column to be the correct short 57 type and new turn signal controls on the column (NOS) and electric wipers (NOS kinda used) and a refurb'ed radio, new heater switch and cables and vents restored and all paint stripped inside and new seat belts and new cab mounts. Refurbed guages and a new speedo. The list goes on and on.

Still looks like crap on the outside but feels and looks new when you are in it or looking under the hood.


I have some new tires i need to get on it before doing much of a test drive. The old tires are not trust worthy. Might end up with 4 flats...


But the great news was that it all started and runs smooth after all that work and all the wires being replaced!

Only thing not working is the new refurbished radio. It makes volume sound but is not receiving any channels. I will need to re-check the new antennae and try my old antennae or my old radio with the new antennae. My old radio was needing a rebuild and I opted for buying another one that was already restored. But I did not try it till a year later and does not work! It may just be a loose tube or something from shipping. I can try some tube swaps in the old radio.

The only other issue is the right front turn signal needs a better ground. Not a lot of metal around it as the body right there is rusting out. I have a wire going from its screw on the back to the head light right not to get a ground.

I had found a coolant leak on the plug on the top of the new water pump a few weeks ago and had to seal that as well.

But it is all running again. That is nice. Hope the coolant leak under the valve covers is fixed. I have not run it enough to bother looking. Hoping the thread sealant on the head bolts is holding and fixed the issue. Assuming that was the issue.