The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Starting truck after 20 years of neglect

So I have a 49 truck with a 55 235 in it my dad rebuilt likely in 1980 or so.last time I remember driving it was in 88 but tabs were from 94 so maybe my dad had been using it.it had been sitting at my brothers till a month ago when I acquired it.
Checked the engine and it is free
So far I have cleaned the gas tank,changed the fuel filter,changed the oil,put on a new air cleaner,new plug wires,new battery.i turned it over a few times to hopefully circulate some oil.added fresh gas with lead additive.coolent is full.

So the question is am I ready to try to start the beast or am I missing something?

Looks like your ready to try it. May find out you need plugs and points too, maybe a condenser. If it runs ok, don't change condenser. A lot of new ones are no good.

I would pull the valve cover off, pour some oil down over the valves and rocker shaft. Then turn the motor over by hand. Do it a couple times and watch and make sure that you don't have any valves sticking. You should also clean and adjust the points.

Add a strong dose of "Sea Foam" gasoline additive to the tank. It might help prevent the sticky valve problems that old stovebolt engines have pretty often after long-term storage. Good luck!
Jerry

I'd be tempted to pull the Carburetor, carefully dis-assemble, clean the Fuel Bowl and Jets well, check the Needle Valve and make sure it moves freely.

Double check Float Level...test Needle Valve and Float by blowing into the inlet while gently lifting the Float with something...make sure the needle Valve is closing well at top Float level.

You can Crank the Engine a little while to get Oil up and into the Rockers...with the Valve Cover off, you will see the Oil coming up out of the little holes in the Rocker Tappets. Then you know every place else which needs Oil, has likely got plenty.

Then fire it up.

If those Holes in the Rocker tops are clogged, you would do well to clean them so the Oil can come up through them again.

Did you see any signs of 'sludge'?

If so, may be good to pull the Pan and clean all that out well...likewise the Cover on the right side, which coveres the Lifters...get all the old sludge out of those areas...same with the Rockers area on top.


Lastly, might be good to put in new Flex Brake Hoses...or inspect the old ones anyway, bend them around real good, see if they crack...since they might be a little 'iffy' by now.

I saw a post once by Tim Lederman that he wouldn't touch a vehicle brought to him by a friend (keep me honest Tim) until it had new plugs, points, condenser, battery (at least good), and I'm sure I missed something. I recently rescued a restoration gone bad (my 54) and we did all the above plus a compression test(wet and dry on all cylinders) and changed the oil pouring plenty across the rockers with valve cover off. Poured some gasoline into the carb, making sure to get some into the little opening into the bowl to feed the engine until fuel pump kicks in. It started right up, then we adjusted the valves and made sure oil was bubbling up, water was circulating, etc. These old engines want to run.
Good luck.

pull the plugs, squirt wd-40 in each hole to free up the rings. Turn the engine over with the battery several times while doing this.

Dead Engine Back to Life

-W