starting an engine that has been sitting about 5 years
01-06-2009, 10:36 AM
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starting an engine that has been sitting about 5 years
I have a 383 stroker engine in a 1985 camaro iroc/z.The engine has been sitting for about 4-5 years and has never been started.I installed the engine in the car in the summer but I did not get a chance to start it and I am getting ready to start it up now.What should I do before starting it up for the first time...thank you, scott overmann
01-06-2009, 10:45 AM
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Car: 87IROC, 740iBMW, 328iBMW, 86GMC
Engine: 5.7, 4.4LV8, 2.8, 6.0
Transmission: Manuals & Auto's
Axle/Gears: 3.27, 3.42
Re: starting an engine that has been sitting about 5 years
Prime the oil system if you can.
01-06-2009, 10:46 AM
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Car: 1985 Berlinetta
Engine: Megasquirted TPI
Transmission: Transgo 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: starting an engine that has been sitting about 5 years
What kind of assembly lube did you use?
01-06-2009, 10:48 AM
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Re: starting an engine that has been sitting about 5 years
lets hope you used moly lube and deff. prime the oil system. Is there any fuel in the tank or lines????
01-06-2009, 03:46 PM
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01-06-2009, 07:00 PM
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Nothing you can do before you turn it over will make up for not being assembled and/or stored properly.
So, make sure it has fresh oil and gas, set the timing as close as you can, fire it up. If you want to get **** about it, after putting in oil and before giving it spark or gas, leave the spark plugs out and turn it over until you get oil pressure. Then put the spark plugs in, give it spark and gas, go for it.
So, make sure it has fresh oil and gas, set the timing as close as you can, fire it up. If you want to get **** about it, after putting in oil and before giving it spark or gas, leave the spark plugs out and turn it over until you get oil pressure. Then put the spark plugs in, give it spark and gas, go for it.
01-06-2009, 11:04 PM
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Car: 1984 Z-28 and 1989 GTA Trans Am
Re: starting an engine that has been sitting about 5 years
Priming the oil system is a good ideea. I would spind the engine by hand one turn and repeat the priming process. I would repeat this a couple of times to make sure all bearings ahve a good coat of oil. Inspect the plugs make sure they are clean. If at all possible, sta-bil or not, drain the tank and get some fresh gas. Fresh gas is always better than stored gas. Wouldnt want to ruin a good engine for and hour's worth of work and maybe 20 - 30 bucks.
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01-06-2009, 11:52 PM
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Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Priming the oil system is over-rated. The factory never did it. Assembly lube is a better first-turn lube than oil.
01-06-2009, 11:57 PM
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Re: starting an engine that has been sitting about 5 years
But, after 5 years, is the assembly lube the original poster used still going to to its job?
01-07-2009, 01:11 AM
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Re: starting an engine that has been sitting about 5 years
I say, better safe than sorry, I would prime it, it won't hurt it.
01-07-2009, 01:14 AM
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Car: 88 Camaro
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Re: starting an engine that has been sitting about 5 years
If you never started it, lube should still be where it was left ! unless it got really really hot to make the lube watery.
01-11-2009, 09:25 PM
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Re: starting an engine that has been sitting about 5 years
with a limited amount of work, here is what i would say needs to be done, make sure it has fresh oil and gas, make sure there are no visual signs of rodent deteroration that could make a big accident, i would even pull the plugs for inspection, and maybe spin the engine over by hand just for peace of mind, as well as try and have the base timing set close, you could even put in about 3 gallons of cheap oil and let the car sit for an hour, just to help coat the lower crank bearings after 5 years, be sure to drain the oil to spec before start up.
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