The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop And Your Final Answer???

So, for a first time start on my 235, should the pointer on the flywheel housing be on the steal ball or slightly after? What about the triangle? I have a bunch of different answers from different sources.

The steel ball is the timing mark. Is the flywheel the same year as the engine?

It is a 235 on a 46, so it might not be the same. The engine is really close to catching, but it seems to be off just a bit. Should I try turning the dizzy so the rotor is just hit the #1 spark plug at TDC? It's soooooo close!!!

If your battery is strong, and you have an Octane Selector that attaches the distributor to the block, crank the engine and if it does not start, adjust the Octane Selector by 1 degree in each direction until it starts.

Be careful, if it starts backfiring, go in the other direction.

Thanks Tim. I will start on the ball again, give it a crank, and see what happens. If it's a no go, I will rotate the octane selector. I'll let you know what happens...

By the way, where should the throttle and the choke be on the carburetor when I'm starting for the first time?

When the engine is cold, pull the choke knob out (closes the choke plate in the carb), and give the gas pedal a couple of pushes to the floor. Leave the throttle in.

When initially starting and not knowing if it's in time or not I get it as close as I can (TDC, points open, rotor points to #1). Then while cranking the engine and with the clamp on the distributor loose turn the whole thing one way and then the other, somewhere in there it will fire and run, then adjust timing by ear and lock it.
Once running you can set it any which way you please, be it a vacuum gauge, ear, or timing light.

On a first start you will probably choke it some, and no throttle other than by hand/foot as necessary to keep it running (when starting never use the throttle cable on the dash).
You'll need to judge if you've choked it to much or not and try not to flood it.

Check oil pressure immediately on startup, shut it off if you don't see any in 5 or 8 seconds or so after starting.

Grigg

Thanks for all the tips guys! I finally got the engine running!!! I had a feeling it was going to be a late one, but it paid off. Tomorrow I will check for oil pressure. Should I just take the valve cover off and check for oil at the heads? I can't believe it's finally running. Only ten seconds, but it's running!

Great feeling,getting her running for the frist time,You should have you're oil pressure ga. or a temporary ga.installed so you can see the pressure. and yes take the valve cover off and make sure the valves are getting oil.

Good luck,and sounds like You're having fun,

Pete

Put in a temp oil gauge, they are cheap and and good insurance. Don't run the engine till you get one. By the time oil gets up under the vavle cover, you could all ready have wiped out the bearings. Is this a new rebuild, if so, don't let it idle for long, get it started, set the timing by ear and let it run at high idle to break in. 10 to 15 minutes is a good break in, don't let it get hot, have a garden hose standing by to cool the radiator, once the time has passed, slow it down and set the timing and idle speed.

Glad it started, now install that oil gauge!

Joe

Congratulations

Heed Joe's advice.

Alright guys, oil gauge it is. Where exactly do I connect it. I am new at this and it is a fresh rebuild. I assume it connects to the port where the actual gauge cluster oil gauge connects? What should the pressure read?Thanks again for all the support.