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Starting a car that’s been sitting...Help

Posted By: 72CUDA340

Starting a car that’s been sitting...Help - 05/16/20 01:31 PM

My cuda has been sitting for 5-6 years.The 318 had 1000 miles on a fresh rebuild when I parked it. I rebuilt the carb this week and I’m in the process of finding some 5/16 hex stock to prime the oil pump. I’ll be changing the oil and making sure the fuel pump works before initial startup. Is there anything else I should do before attempting to fire it off? Should I remove the spark plugs and squirt some wd40 or something in the cylinders so the rings have some lubrication?
Most concerned with wiping a lobe off the cam, it was broken in before it was parked but only put 1000 miles on it.
Should’ve never let it sit to begin with but life got in the way.
Posted By: bobby66

Re: Starting a car that’s been sitting...Help - 05/16/20 01:57 PM

Shoot a little oil in the cylinders.
Posted By: topside

Re: Starting a car that’s been sitting...Help - 05/16/20 02:26 PM

Make sure it'll turn over by hand.
You can get a proper oil pump drive hex from Summit, Jeg's etc.
I'd want to have a squirt or spray bottle with some gas for the carb so it lights off quickly.
While the distributor's out, maybe pour in some EOS or whatever high-zinc stuff you have.
I'd generally treat it like another break-in event.
Posted By: Tom_440

Re: Starting a car that’s been sitting...Help - 05/16/20 02:38 PM

Fresh gas?
Posted By: 72CUDA340

Re: Starting a car that’s been sitting...Help - 05/16/20 03:05 PM

Thanks guys! I plan to start it with fresh gas off a nurse tank. I’ll fill the fuel bowls so it will light off quickly. I ran delo 400 15w-40 on break-in. I know it had zinc in it, not sure if I ran a zinc additive besides what is in the delo?
Posted By: PhillyRag

Re: Starting a car that’s been sitting...Help - 05/17/20 04:04 AM

Originally Posted by 72CUDA340
My cuda has been sitting for 5-6 years.The 318 had 1000 miles on a fresh rebuild when I parked it. I rebuilt the carb this week and I’m in the process of finding some 5/16 hex stock to prime the oil pump. I’ll be changing the oil and making sure the fuel pump works before initial startup. Is there anything else I should do before attempting to fire it off? Should I remove the spark plugs and squirt some wd40 or something in the cylinders so the rings have some lubrication?
Most concerned with wiping a lobe off the cam, it was broken in before it was parked but only put 1000 miles on it.
Should’ve never let it sit to begin with but life got in the way.


While you're priming the oil via hex-shaft, put a pushbutton jumper type wire across starter relay to allow some rotation of engine, "bump" it now&then..
Allows valve train to get full amount of lube up there if the rockers are moving. Nice to have 1 valve cover off to observe. Rocker oil flows down into camshaft area also.
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