what kind of work does a 390 fe, or any engine for that matter, need to get it started after sitting for 12 years considering it was running when parked? i used the search but could only find stuff up to 5 or so years. -joeks
first thing you need to do is a complete tune up. Change all the plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, points, condenser and coil. Use engine flush when you change the oil to clean out the gunk. If the motor is complete make sure you flush out the cooling system. Clean out the carb and fuel pump and change the fuel filter. Change the thermostat. Check the water pump as well. Also if the trans is on there as well change out the ****** fluid even if its a manual trans. These are the steps I go through every time I try to get a motor to start after a few years.
When you get ready to fire it, pull the col wire and turn it over til you get oil pressure. If you don't get oil pressure, find out why before you fire it...
Oh yeah, here's the gospel on this. I seriously printed it out and follow it step by step when doing this kinda thing. Should save you some time and money... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=77566
I would by-p*** the gas tank while trying to get it started. Use a small gas can with fresh gas with a hose directly to the pump. I would also remove the plugs and squirt a generous amount of Marvel Mystery Oil into each cylinder to lubricate the rings and cylinder walls. You don't want to end up with broken rings. After it's soaked for a while, try cranking the engine without the plugs installed. With no compression it should spin over fairly easy. After getting it cranking, then go ahead and install new plugs, points, etc...and change the oil and filters. Anything rubber has a great potential to give you trouble. Crankshaft seals, valve seals, transmission seals, accelerator pumps, fuel pump diaphrams, etc...It would help if you could soak them with some petroleum product to soften them up again.
Dont worry about getting the cooling system, transmission, or any other useless **** going right now, focus on getting the motor started then get it driving. I usually check compression on every cylinder (thumb over the plug hole) and give a few squirts of plain oil in to the cylinders that have low compression, this helps fill in the gaps around the rings and valves so the cylinder can get compression, and let it sit overnight. Check you timing, check the carb to see that its squirting (if you really want to get into it you could take the top of to see if the float is filled with gunky old gas) and make sure you have spark at the plug. An engine needs three things to run; fire, fuel, and compression, so if its not starting your missing one or more of these things. Good luck.
After 12 years i would fully expect their to be some corrosion in the cylinders. Nothing that would kill the motor but i'd still take the a few procedures to prevent scoreing up the cylinders or damaging the rings. 1. Spray a bit of fogging oil or marvel into each cylinder. Let it sit overnight. I prefer fogging oil because it foams up everywhere and will coat the valves as well. 2. Then take a wrench and attempt to turn the motor over by hand. If it goes over easy you should be good to try for a start. else repeat step 1 and wait a few more days. After this is done go for a basic ignition tune up. The only thing that might give you trouble is the fuel system. There is a good chance it will have gummed up and that your carb will need service. Definitiely change the fuel filter. it's not a bad idea to backflush the line with a little compressed air as well.. once all these precautions are taken spill a little gas directly into the carb and give her a try.. you might be suprised ..
I'd pull the rocker arm covers and douche the valve guides... Then, take a br*** punch and tap the ends of each valve. If they stick when you crank it, you can expect bent pushrods. If they stick open... expect much worse. SO, make sure they're all moving freely. JOE
All good points. I use the douse the cylinders with oil, crank by hand, change oil then crank by starter until oil pressure builds (and that clears the cylinders - it'll make a mess so watch out or put towels over the plug holes), then re-install plugs and see if it'll fire with some gas down the carb and fuel line unhooked. Honestly - I personally don't worry about the cooling system or the 'tune up' stuff before starting an engine that's been sitting - either it's going to work well enough to light a fire in it or it'll need fixing - stuff usually doesn't just "go bad" from sitting a couple of years - and I like to get it running as well as I can with old parts and once running ***ess the situation before dumping money into parts if the engine is going to be trash or need complete overhaul. The carb I'll try and do a quick and dirty cleaning and only use a top gasket or bowl gasket - or re-use the stockers if they by some miracle come off in one piece - and then drain gas and fill with fresh stuff and see if it'll work - if not then it's complete rebuild time Haven't had to do a car engine that's stuck but done several 1-2 cyl small engines - and the soaking with penetrating oil and rocking the crank back and forth has done the trick.
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