1961 Plymouth - Help with first start in 30+ years

[michael14]

Hello all,

 

I'm certainly no mechanic, this Plymouth has been sitting since around 1991 we believe, and I want to see if the engine runs. What should I be doing with the car before I try and turn it over having been so long? Thinking some sort of lubrication down the spark plugs, run a fuel line straight off the pump in case there's shit in any of the lines, new oil and water - anything else I should look at doing first?

 

Thanks in advance for any help!

[tortron]

If its been sitting for years there will be no oil in thr top end and pump. The pump may need priming first, and it may help to squirt some oil everywhere manually in the topend before cranking.

Be good to see some oil pressure before giving it any fuel/spark

[CUL8R]

Remove the plugs, turn it over by hand to make sure there's no tight spots. 

Once you know it completes a revolution without issue, crank on starter motor still without the spark plugs in until oil pressure builds (ideally a new gauge into oil pressure sender) . May as well check your points etc. However you'll probably find the gaskets in the carbs will leak once you start feeding it fresh gas. 

For the sake of trying to get it going you'd gravity feed some from a small bottle to the carb inlet line, if you are trying to get it to pull through from the tank, could try backfeeding some fuel to the mechanical fuel pump - may come around

Probably still have to bottle feed it some straight down the throat of the carb tbh regardless

From experience dont put anti freeze in it, just so long as you have water in it once its running. I wouldn't worry about changing the oil till you know it goes. It doesnt go "off" as such. Once you've had it going and got some temp into it, then dump it out if you wish and put fresh in. No point in putting fresh oil in if it ends up being ceased...

[RUNAMUCK]

I would start by draining the oil, and replacing it with fresh stuff.  After sitting so long, any impurities in the oil will have dropped put of suspension. (As may have some of the additives) Dump the oil, and replace it with new. 

As said above, you could crank it with the plugs out,

However, if it's a Small block mopar (313/318 poly engine) you can remove the distributor, slide out the oil pump drive, and drive the pump with a drill using a special hex drive tool. (You're in  Christchurch no? I can land you one if you like) 

If it's a B series engine, you can do the same,  but  the oil pump spindle backwards, so you need to run the drill backwards. 

Run the pump with the rocker covers off, and see that there's oil getting to the valve gear. Once your oil light is off, (those pumps move an unholy amount of  oil even at drill soeed) Then refit the oil pump drive, and the dizzy. While the valve covers are off, you can find TDC. It pays to reinstall the dizzy about 10° advanced for a faster first fire.

I would Run a hose from the fuel pump to a gas can. The fuel in the tank will be mud now. 

Clean the plugs, and check the points. 

Flick me a message if you wanna grab that tool.

[ajg193]

Oil filter will be absolutely garbage by now - best to swap that before starting

[michael14]

Sorry guys been a bit MIA - thanks everyone for the advice, @RUNAMUCK I'll flick you a message