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rebuilt motor sat for 8 years, safe to run it now? #1220384 04/22/12 09:05 AM 04/22/12 09:05 AM
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,349 warfordsburg, PA dirt OP pro stock
dirt OP pro stock Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,349 warfordsburg, PA	this is a 318 that has sat on an engine stand for 8 years after a rebuild and hasnt been turned over since. what would you do before starting it?

Re: rebuilt motor sat for 8 years, safe to run it now? [Re: dirt] #1220385 04/22/12 10:04 AM 04/22/12 10:04 AM
Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa M mikemee1331 master
mikemee1331 master M Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa	replace oil, prime oil, start engine. maybe re-flush cooling depending on where/how it was stored.

Re: rebuilt motor sat for 8 years, safe to run it now? [Re: dirt] #1220386 04/22/12 10:14 AM 04/22/12 10:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 7,664 IN A ahy master
ahy master A Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 7,664 IN	A lot of times folks in your situation just fire it up and it works. A little prep increases the chance of sucess though. I would - pull plugs and put a little oil in each hole. If its still on the stand, roll it to distribute the oil around the piston tops. - Fill with oil (high zinc, diesel engine oil would be good). - Pull distributor and prime the oil system with a drill and rod - Roll it over by hand while running the drill pump - If it turns over OK, assemble and fire it up. - Normal break in for a flat tappet cam calls for running around 2000 RPM for 20 minutes. Added insurance would be to pull the manifold and inspect the cam for rust. If it was coated with assembly lube and stored in a dry place, it should be fine. If you aren't sure, worth having a look. If you do pull the manifold, have some cam break in lube handy and give it a good coat before firing.

Re: rebuilt motor sat for 8 years, safe to run it now? [Re: dirt] #1220387 04/22/12 10:14 AM 04/22/12 10:14 AM
Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,091 oberlin, Ohio Rapid340 top fuel
Rapid340 top fuel Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,091 oberlin, Ohio	If it is in a normal garage that can have a few 40 degree day to day temperate changes, there is probably at least a small amount of rust in the cylinders. If this is just a beater 318 I would squirt some WD40 in the cylinders, prime the oil system and run it. Other wise it may be a good idea to pull the intake and heads and look things over and put some fresh cam lube on the lobes. Since it is on a stand without and coolant in it I doubt flushing it out would benefit much. 1971 Factory Appearing Duster 340 11.000 @ 122 mph

Re: rebuilt motor sat for 8 years, safe to run it now? [Re: Rapid340] #1220388 04/22/12 10:29 AM 04/22/12 10:29 AM
Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O 70Cuda383 Too Many Posts
70Cuda383 Too Many Posts Joined: Oct 2003 Posts: 21,345 Marysville, O-H-I-O	my ONLY concern would be valve springs, but being compressed is not what weakens springs, it's the cycling of the spring up and down that weakens the metal over time, so you SHOULD be ok. if they're low tension springs on a stock cam, I wouldn't worry about it too much. surface rust in the cylinder bores may be present, but the rings will knock it off as they break in and seat, so again, I wouldn't worry too much about that. Photobucket sucks

Re: rebuilt motor sat for 8 years, safe to run it now? [Re: Rapid340] #1220389 04/22/12 10:44 AM 04/22/12 10:44 AM
Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa M mikemee1331 master
mikemee1331 master M Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 4,154 bethlehem pa	Quote: Since it is on a stand without and coolant in it I doubt flushing it out would benefit much. dude, ya need to flush out the dead spiders!

Re: rebuilt motor sat for 8 years, safe to run it now? [Re: mikemee1331] #1220390 04/22/12 02:47 PM 04/22/12 02:47 PM
Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,091 oberlin, Ohio Rapid340 top fuel
Rapid340 top fuel Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 2,091 oberlin, Ohio	Quote: dude, ya need to flush out the dead spiders! No, once ground up they provide a little extra water pump lubricant. 1971 Factory Appearing Duster 340 11.000 @ 122 mph

Re: rebuilt motor sat for 8 years, safe to run it now? [Re: dirt] #1220391 04/22/12 03:39 PM 04/22/12 03:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,008 wv D Dartcuda super stock
Dartcuda super stock D Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,008 wv	I just disassembled a 340 that I had rebuilt in 2005 and never ran . It was closed up in a garbage bag on a stand in the back of my shop which is nice and dry . It was abolutely perfect inside no rust or moisture at all . I had used assembly grease on the bearingas for long storage and that was still there. It would have been fine to run as is but i pulled it down for a cam swap and all i needed were new gaskets . Engine is in the car now and runs perfect. Also the rockers were not torqued down before storage.

Re: rebuilt motor sat for 8 years, safe to run it now? [Re: ahy] #1220392 04/22/12 03:57 PM 04/22/12 03:57 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,816 Alton, IL D Dakota_Don master
Dakota_Don master D Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 6,816 Alton, IL	Quote: A lot of times folks in your situation just fire it up and it works. A little prep increases the chance of sucess though. I would - pull plugs and put a little oil in each hole. If its still on the stand, roll it to distribute the oil around the piston tops. - Fill with oil (high zinc, diesel engine oil would be good). - Pull distributor and prime the oil system with a drill and rod - Roll it over by hand while running the drill pump - If it turns over OK, assemble and fire it up. - Normal break in for a flat tappet cam calls for running around 2000 RPM for 20 minutes. Added insurance would be to pull the manifold and inspect the cam for rust. If it was coated with assembly lube and stored in a dry place, it should be fine. If you aren't sure, worth having a look. If you do pull the manifold, have some cam break in lube handy and give it a good coat before firing. this is what i would do

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