The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Starting an engine that has been in storage

I am about ready to swing in a '59 235 engine that has been sitting in a heated garage for 5+ years. I have occasionally turned it over but not started it. I was told it was in running condition when I acquired it. I will change the oil and filter before installing.

What are your recommendations?

Thanks, Bob

Change the oil & filter. Remove the spark plugs and squirt a little Marvel Mystery oil or ATF into each cylinder.
Remove the distributor and pump up the system by spinning the oil pump with an electric drill with an attachment to fit into the pump shaft. You could make one out of a screw driver. Some parts stores loan out the tool. Reinstall the distributor and crank the engine over several times with the plugs out. Reinstall the plugs and you should be ready to run.
Fred

Fred has it right. Then you can find all the leaks

Fred: Why remove the distributor? Where is the oil pump located? How do I get reinstall the distributor so that it is correct with the pistons and valve?

JD,
The pump is below the distributor. Pull the distributor and with a tool that looks like a large straight blade screw driver, you can make up something, attach it to your cordless drill and spin the pump. This assumes you have fresh oil in it. With the valve cover off you should see oil come up to the top of the engine and lube the rocker arm assembly. This also means that oil is flowing to your main bearings.
Once you know that all is well with the oil system, you can reinstall the distributor.
To do this, pull all spark plugs and slowly turn the engine over by hand until the number one piston is at the top of its travel. As you put the distributor back in, the Rotor should point to the 4 o'clock position. It takes some work to do this because the distributor shaft has 2 gears on it. One for the cam and one to engage the oil pump. The distributor must sit all the way down and engage both. I believe if you set the rotor at about 3 o'clock as you go down with the distributor, it will turn slightly as it engages the cam. Look down the hole where all this goes and Line up the oil pump slot so all will drop in. If you have that finished the your number 1 plug wire should line up with the rotor. Make sure your spark plug wires are in the correct order.
Have fun. Let us know how it goes.
Mark

JD,
When you bring the number one piston up it must be on the compression stroke. You can watch your valves. Both will be up or closed.
Sorry about the confusion.

Mark

Mark the location of the rotor or set the distributor on #1 before you remove it. If you don't rotate the engine before the distributor is reinstalled you won't change anything. It can be reinstalled in the same location by indexing the oil pump shaft to match the slot on the distributor. Hook up an oil pressure gauge so you can make sure the engine has adequate oil pressure.
Fred

even if you get the distributor off a little bit, the wires only have to go in order, not any specific terminal to any specific spark plug. right now mine is one terminal off as compared to what is in the book, I ended up doing this once before on a mercury...if you want to fight it and get it exactly on the same terminal AND down in the slot to drive the oil pump go ahead, I'll just get mine close and arrange the wiring from there.