Have not started my Charger since October.....

Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/10/11 09:03 PM

I have not started my 70 Charger RT since Oct.2010 Shouldnt there still be some oil on the cylinders so that i can just fire it up now instead of shooting some oil into the cylinders before firing it up?

My combo is 512RB with Aluminum heads,950HP carb with 10.5 comp. I will probably have to prime my carb because I am sure all of the fuel has probably drained back and I routinely have to do that even if it sat for just a couple of days.

Posted By: 70Duster

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/10/11 09:33 PM

Just let it crank and let the fuel pump prime the carb. By the time the fuel fills the carb bowls, you will have built up some oil pressure from the cranking. Mine sits from October to March every year with no issues when I start it in the spring.

Posted By: repad

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/10/11 09:36 PM

You may want to consider priming the oil pump before you fire it up. This envolves removing the distrubutor and intermediate shaft then inserting a priming shaft into the oil pump and priming with a drill spinning in reverse. If you want to take it to the next step, spin the engine over by hand in order to get oil to the topside. This will introduce oil to everything except your cylinders.

Posted By: YO7_A66

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/10/11 09:39 PM

I agree with the above. I let mine set for three to four months with the same issue. I charge my battery, then I crank for 5 seconds then stop for 5 seconds. Then I will do that a couple of times. Then apply the gas pedal a couple of times and see if she fires up. If not, then I crank it for another 5 seconds and try and start her up again. It usually takes 4-5 times or so but by the time she fires, the oil is where it needs to be.
This way the oil starts circulating while the fresh fuel gets pushed into the carb.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/10/11 09:45 PM

You might not notice the diff but I'd fog the cyls w WD40 or something similar. Wouldn't take much time & I think combustion drys the walls and I am overly picky but you do have alot invested in your eng and being picky lets me sleep better at night (even it it doesn't do much good) & I'd {as said} also drill prime it

. Who knows if a # of dry starts would let the leakdown rate get excessive in 5 years as opposed to 8

Posted By: 62maxwgn

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/10/11 09:54 PM

It's only 4 mo. My bird has sat for 6mo each year for 18 yrs and is the same as it was back in 92.

Posted By: DaytonaTurbo

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/10/11 10:33 PM

Quote:

It's only 4 mo. My bird has sat for 6mo each year for 18 yrs and is the same as it was back in 92.

Same here, been storing by car for 5-6 months every winter for the last 8 years. All I ever to when I go fire it up is give it a shot of gas down the carb and hit the key. Finally tore the engine apart on it this year, no unusual wear.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/10/11 10:36 PM

Yeah your (both) right should be no prob

Posted By: JoesMopar

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/10/11 10:41 PM

I park my cars from the end of Oct until the end of March without any problems at all.

Before I park them, I do an oil change, fill it up with fresh gas, add some Stabil and run the car up and down the road a few times to mix it up in the tank and get it through the carb.

When I start them in the spring, I just put a charger on the battery, and turn the key long enough to get oil pressure up, then either turn on the electric fuel pump or pump gas (manual pump) and let it run.

Posted By: Mopar1

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/10/11 11:17 PM

I wouldn't worry about it. A friend of mine has his '65 Imperial (413 engine) stored in my garage and just yesterday he dropped by to start it. The last time it turned over was Oct. 09. He hit the gas, turned it a few time and it fired up, quiet as a kitten, let it run for a 1/2 hr then shut it down again.

Posted By: stubbs300

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/11/11 12:44 AM

People are way to anal when it comes to this subject! Have you ever changed your oil and when you fire it up, it sounds like a can of marbles for a few seconds, even after dumping 1/2 a can to prefill the filter before installing it? It's the same thing here, the residual oil is enough to keep things coated till pressure builds.
I have cranked and cranked to prime the carb but by the time it fills to fire, sure you may have oil pressure by then, by why over stress your starter when you don't have to? Just dump some gas down the throat, fire it up and idle till oil pressure builds which should be within 2-5 seconds depending on your build then conduct matters as needed from there. I've been doing it this way for years and I haven't had any problems or premature wear on parts. Very early cars didn't even have oil pumps, they were oiled thru windage and sloshing of oil.

Posted By: goldduster318

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/12/11 12:48 AM

Unless you're going to go for a drive on that start, don't bother. Letting it idle won't get it warm enough to boil the condensation out of the oil.

I also agree, crank until you have fuel and let her rip. My lawnmower has aluminum cylinder walls, was made in 1973, has never been rebuilt and is still fine...and those are splash oiled and started at full throttle every time.

Posted By: Pale_Roader

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/12/11 10:46 AM

My 75 440 in my Charger had been sitting unfired for about two years when i finally got it going this fall. If pulling plugs was not such a megalithic CHORE to do in this car i may have fogged the cylinders with something, but it turned out fine anyways.

My 68 Caddy sat in storage for over 10 years, usually started every few months, and i think at its worst it was 18 months in between fires, yet it always starts like new and runs beautifully. That engine is still original (un-rebuilt) and has 185-195 in all cylinders.

Now... would i treat a built engine like this...??? Probably not. Then again, hopefully if i EVER get around to building an engine i'd hope to be able to park it indoors at least.

Posted By: DennisH

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/12/11 03:57 PM

Sta-Bil.

Posted By: Mr71Bee

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/15/11 02:48 AM

Duuuude, what have you been up to? That is too fine a car to bee sitting for so long!

What weight oil you running in the crankcase? Running 20-50? I would be sure i was at least 50 outside. Cold temps and that oil will be like mole-asses in your crankcase. It will not flow so well. Not a good thing for the bearings.

10-40 is a 10-4. Unless its like 10 degrees outside or something. I would crank it a bit, pump the gas and fire it up. I start mine after sitting all winter that way, but do try to get it to 40 to 50. It warms faster and I get less chance of fuel puddling in my cold manifold. (No ex crossover)

I would not be too concerned, but if you are concerned about building pressure, pull the distibutor and prime it...or pull the plugs and spin with no load.

Dallas

Posted By: Blakcharger440

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/16/11 03:38 AM

Quote:

Duuuude, what have you been up to? That is too fine a car to bee sitting for so long!

What weight oil you running in the crankcase? Running 20-50? I would be sure i was at least 50 outside. Cold temps and that oil will be like mole-asses in your crankcase. It will not flow so well. Not a good thing for the bearings.

10-40 is a 10-4. Unless its like 10 degrees outside or something. I would crank it a bit, pump the gas and fire it up. I start mine after sitting all winter that way, but do try to get it to 40 to 50. It warms faster and I get less chance of fuel puddling in my cold manifold. (No ex crossover)

I would not be too concerned, but if you are concerned about building pressure, pull the distibutor and prime it...or pull the plugs and spin with no load.

Dallas

Hey!!! It is good to see that you are on the board. Yep I am running 20-50 Valvoline in it. The temps have been in the single digits lately. I will probably wait until it warms up a little.

Thanks for all the input guys!

Posted By: MoparforLife

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/16/11 01:25 PM

Quote:

I have not started my 70 Charger RT since Oct.2010 Shouldnt there still be some oil on the cylinders so that i can just fire it up now instead of shooting some oil into the cylinders before firing it up?

My combo is 512RB with Aluminum heads,950HP carb with 10.5 comp. I will probably have to prime my carb because I am sure all of the fuel has probably drained back and I routinely have to do that even if it sat for just a couple of days.

Start it and drive. Lots of vehicles sit that long or longer and are started and driven with no thought to it. Not a big deal.

Posted By: 4BBodies

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/16/11 02:57 PM

If it is stored inside, the moisture levels are much lower than if it was outside. So if it has been sitting less than 6 months, it is probably fine. Crank it over once in awhile, to take the load off of valve springs, which will also open a different cylinder to the air. I have several vehicles I run through the winter, off and on, and after 20 years I have had few issues. The biggest are usually fuel related, not with the block or oiling. This new gas sucks, and sitting can really cause problems. There have been numerous threads on sta-bil etc., (which I use) but as far as harm to the engine from sitting a few months? Don't worry about it, run it and drive it as often as permissable. Here is a test I did in the past, when I was worried about similar things.........I took a bare piece of sheetmetal, and stuck it under the hood of a car to see if it would flash rust. It never did, in like a year.........God, I love my shop!

Posted By: screamindriver

Re: Have not started my Charger since October..... - 01/16/11 04:07 PM

Yep, the horrible fuel these days is more of a threat than the winter hibernation...Even with stabil it's still a roll of the dice but at least with the additive it's not gum it just won't start...