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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,696 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,696 | Tomorrow I am going to meet someone who has a '54 3100 series which has been sitting since 2003. He wants to restore it but first wants to get it back up and running. What is the best priority list for him to follow. Yes, change all fluids, check brakes, etc. I'm concerned about having new oil at the valve train when he cranks the motor over for the first time. Yes for turning the motor over by hand just to make sure nothing is bound up. So, if someone has a basic TODO list of what to look at, change, etc, that would be very helpful.
Craig
Craig My '50 Chevy 3100 5 window, '62-235cu, 3:55 rear My truck ....... Respect The Rust If I'm not working on my truck, '65 m00stang or VW camper, I'm fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 | Craig, check the Tech Tips. There is a very good one there for the taking!
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,059 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,059 | #1 on my list is to avoid using any gas whatsoever via the gas tank. Use a small boat tank. Leave the priming bulb on it to prime the fuel pump.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 Crusing in the Passing Lane | | Crusing in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 5,096 | Oil all the valves, then tap each one with a rubber hammer or 2 x 4 to make sure they are not stuck, BEFORE turning the engine over by hand.
Ed
'37 GMC T-18 w/ DD 4-53T, RTO-610, 6231 aux., '95 GMC running gear, full disc brakes, power steering, 22.5 wheels and tires.
'47 GMC 1 ton w/ 302, NP-540, 4wd, full width Blazer front axle.
'54 GMC 630 w/ 503 gasser, 5 speed, ex fire truck, shortened WB 4', install 8' bed.
'55 GMC 370 w/270, 420 4 speed, grain, dump bed truck from ND. Works OK.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,946 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 2,946 | Wouldn't hurt to also pour a little ATF in all the cylinders and let it sit a while before turning the engine over. Leave the plugs out when you first turn it over to blow the ATF back out. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,696 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,696 | Martin,
Which particular Tech Tip were you referring to? There are so many tips but haven't found one yet which is a semi simple list for one to use that covers many of the "todo"'s.
52Carl, Ed & Rich - Thanks for the very valuable suggestions. Will pass them along.
Will be going to see the rig today.
Craig My '50 Chevy 3100 5 window, '62-235cu, 3:55 rear My truck ....... Respect The Rust If I'm not working on my truck, '65 m00stang or VW camper, I'm fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 123 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 123 | | | | | | Joined: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,451 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2018 Posts: 2,451 | cmayna The main thing is to be sure your valve stems are not gummy from old fuel varnish. soak your valve guides with penetrating products till you know they are free. Otherwise can cause serious hard to fix damage. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,696 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,696 | Thank you very much. I did find the following Spring Wake Up thread in the Tech Tip, which will help the owner a lot. https://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/spring_wake_up.htmlYes for soaking the valve guides before first turnover.
Craig My '50 Chevy 3100 5 window, '62-235cu, 3:55 rear My truck ....... Respect The Rust If I'm not working on my truck, '65 m00stang or VW camper, I'm fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,675 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,675 | KROIL is your friend when waking up an engine after a long sleep. www.kanolabs.comJerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 | cmayna, Joe Apple provided the link to the Tech Tip. Good luck
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,696 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,696 | joe apple, thanks for the link. I made a copy to give to the owner. Also told him to join Stovebolt.
Craig My '50 Chevy 3100 5 window, '62-235cu, 3:55 rear My truck ....... Respect The Rust If I'm not working on my truck, '65 m00stang or VW camper, I'm fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2021 Posts: 1 Moderated | | Moderated Joined: Mar 2021 Posts: 1 | either in a gas engine?wow | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 | While either is not recommended for gas engines it can be a useful tool if applied sparingly. Been done millions of times with no ill effects. Just don’t be heavy handed with your finger on the nozzle.
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Nov 1995 Posts: 5,470 Bond Villain | | Bond Villain Joined: Nov 1995 Posts: 5,470 | If you go through the simple, yet methodical steps in the "Bringing a dead engine back to life" Tech Tip, there should be no need for ether. Just follow the Tech Tip -- Look at who helped me put it together -- easily several centuries of experience represented there.
Friday afternoon, we brought a sleeping diesel back to life after at least a decade of dormancy. Of course the steps are a little different for a diesel, its basically the same methodical approach to avoid causing serious damage.
~ John "We are not now that strength which in old days Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are" 1948 International Farmall Super A1949 Chevrolet 3804In the Legacy Gallery | In the Gallery Forum1973 IH 1310 Dump2001 International/AmTran RE3000 "Skoolie"2014 Ford E-350 4x4 (Quigley) | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 | John, the “Spring wake up” Tech Tip instructs the user to spray either. Just FYI
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,696 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,696 | I hope the owner of the dormant '54 gets to the point of having to decide ether or not. A lot of work is needed before that point.
Craig My '50 Chevy 3100 5 window, '62-235cu, 3:55 rear My truck ....... Respect The Rust If I'm not working on my truck, '65 m00stang or VW camper, I'm fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2020 Posts: 754 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2020 Posts: 754 | Ether is an either or proposition᠁
Age 68 is not too late to start hot rodding , right?
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 116 6 heaven | | 6 heaven Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 116 | I also like to overfill the crankcase with extra oil, maybe even automatic transmission fluid before turning the engine over. If it is overfilled enough, the rear main seal(rope style) may be able to get some lubrication instead of being dry when the engine is turned over. I don't think the extra oil will hurt anything when first started, but for sure the rear seal is gonna be dry on startup. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,832 | We have a couple of Accusump pre-lubers which are a bit pricey but easy to make. If regulated air is used the container can even be PVC. A can with a couple quarts of oil has a line to the oil galley plug and air pressure (30 lbs) is applied to the top of the oil in can. The engine is turned to 0-90-180-270 position to be sure oil is distributed everywhere. Should show on oil pressure gauge. If pan plug is pulled you can push as much pre-lube oil through as you care to. The engine will think it has been run minutes before.
Evan
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