ok, so a group of us are all getting together tomorrow to help two hamber's bring their '55 ford build to life, yeah, we're gonna fire that engine up for the first time! can anyone/everyone offer any helpful advice so i can make sure we will be prepared ahead of time and don't overlook anything. the obvious stuff we've probably got covered, can you think of anything else that's easy to miss? (i didn't want to waste space by posting our checklist on here...) oh, and pictures will come tomorrow night, it's not a top secret project or anything, just don't happen to have any pictures yet. this has been a fun build to watch, you're gonna dig it, and you're gonna LOVE the interior! thank you guys.
i don't know what motor...but if possible ,pull the distributor and pre-lube the engine with a special tool. get the distibutor back in and set the initial timing as close as you can...use a ohmeter if you have points to see when they open. you want it to fire right away...not crank and crank and crank while you turn the distributor back and forth double check all connections...radiator hoses , fuel lines , wires , belts...you don't want a puddle on the floor or a gas leak. if it has an electric fuel pump , run that up first before you fire to see if you have any leaks. if you have just a mechanical pull the coil wire and spin the motor to build some fuel pressure and check for leaks did i say you do not want any leaks? check all fluids...antifreeze , engine oil , etc if it's a new carb adjust it per the instructions in the box...an edelbrock is usually ready to go as is. make sure the trottle is opening AND closing properly make sure the ****** is in park or neutral...is there oil in the ******? block the wheels just in case have a fire extinguisher handy fire it up and check for leaks...break in the cam if it is new set timing with a timing light have fun and then a couple beers AFTER
thanks guys for the tips, it's the y-block ford with an electric fuel pump... i can't wait to hear it run!
if i recall correctly , the y-block has the oil pump on the out side..and uses a pickup tube with a packing type seal. make sure that seal is tight
Even if you check all the hoses, I would have a 1/4", and 5/16" nut driver handy. When you find that one transmission cooler line loose, it is nice to have the nut driver handy to tighten it up. I like a fire extinguisher handy, but if you are in a shop there should be one anyway. The hardest part is taking the extra 20-30 minutes to double check everything. First fire up is always fun. At 4am I find it is very frustrating, and I have better luck getting a few hours of sleep. As I get older I have learned that I forget less stupid stuff when I have not been up for 3days strait.
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