The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop starting a big block after it's sat

Hey guys,my chevelle has a 396 in that has not run in 5 or 6 years. I've been told i should i should take it out and have it redone.They say the big blocks don't like to sit for to long without being fired up every once in a while.Its been inside my garage for that time but the garage is not heated.Do i take a chance and squirt some wd40 into the cylinders let it sit then try to fire it up?If you want to give me he-- for lettin it sit for so long get in line i'm first.

www.kanolabs.com

Get a can of Kroil, and put about 4 ounces in each cylinder for about a week before you try to turn the engine. You might also pull the valve covers and squirt a little on the valve stems to handle any sticky valves. Unless there's been a massive rust buildup from moist air moving in and out of a cylinder with a valve open, chances are you can get it running without a major rehab.
Jerry

I started a 454 that had set for several years a while back without any special prep and no apparent damage. It had not been sitting quite as long, and I needed to move the vehicle ASAP and driving it seemed the easiest approach.

I spun it over with the ignition disabled to get the oil pressure up, then connected the ignition and fired it up. Drove it home and for the next couple years made a point to start it every month or so. Now its been sitting again for a couple years...

I don't believe we have kroil here in canada. What the canadian equivalent be?

Kroil is made in Nashville, Tennessee, and to the best of my experience, there's nothing else like it. They sell it on their website, but there's a very limited number of retail outlets. I don't know about cross-border shipping, as it's primarily sold to industrial end users. You might send them an email and ask about selling to you direct.
Jerry

marvel mystery oil will work or even ATF.

Marvel mystery oil will do. Is it stuck or will it turn? Very few engines like to sit 6 years not just big blocks. I would drain the coolant, flush the radiator and change the oil and filter first. This keeps any crud that has settled over the years from circulating through the engine. Get it oiling first by turning it over without the spark plugs in short burst, I was told 5 or 6 short burst over a few hours gives the oil time to get where it needs to be. Use good gas not 6 year old gas. Put the plugs in then fire it up. The chances are that if it has been in the garage it will go fine. Then you may have to pull it and rebuild it if it turns to crap.

I recently started an engine that had literally not been started for 15 years for sure, possibly 20. It had been stored indoors, no special prep done. I checked all the fluids, spun it over for about 30 seconds with no spark, then hooked up the coil wire and pumped the throttle linkage until it fired. Took about another 45 seconds to get fuel to the carb. I warmed it up, listened to it, heard nothing unusual, drove it about a mile home and then changed every fluid in it. It's been amonth or so now, running really well. It has some rust issues in the cooling system, the owner is aware of them, but other than that, it's an excellent runner. I would try the same with your engine. get it to run, and check its health before you spend a ton of money on it.

Devin