Starting a previously hibernating engine

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2005: Starting a previously hibernating engine
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Hudson on Friday, February 08, 2008 - 06:09 pm:

hey All,
well, the project is coming along nicely, proper frame, etc. I have been traded a good engine, not seized, looks good so far. is there anything I need to do to ensure that this engine starts and does not grenade itself.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jack daron-Indy. on Friday, February 08, 2008 - 06:29 pm:

I hear liberal amounts of prayer help. It isn't if,but when that counts.(G)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By jack daron-Indy. on Friday, February 08, 2008 - 06:37 pm:

Rob, seriously,I'd tear it down and inspect everything.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Hap Tucker on Friday, February 08, 2008 - 08:22 pm:

Rob,

Jack’s advice is best – take it apart and check it out. My Dad bought a 1915 Centerdoor in the 1950s. The engine had actually been overhauled. Because it had been sitting, it was stuck so Dad had to take it apart to get it going again. Nice babbit – but they had failed to install the cotter pins in the #4 rod. If Dad had just run it and not checked – the nuts would have backed off with time. It should only cost you some time and a new gasket set to fully check out the engine. That is a lot easier than bolting it in the chassis and finding out it knocks or worse yet that when it cranks up for the first time a rod goes through the block. And you have to pull it out again and check it and fix it. The only exception I would recommend to that would be if you know who was maintaining it and what condition they said it was in and it has been years since they last saw or ran it.

However, if you decide to run it without checking it thoroughly – at least do the items related to starting the engine in the “How to remove a T from mothballs” checklist at:
http://www.toweautomuseum.org/html/3.html Note, on my screen it comes up “blank” but I just scroll down and the words are there.

Good luck with your project.

Respectfully submitted,

Hap Tucker 1915 Model T Ford touring cut off and made into a pickup truck and 1907 Model S Runabout. Sumter SC.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By J. Iversen on Saturday, February 09, 2008 - 11:03 am:

I'll second the initial advice. A few years ago I bought a complete '23 engine/trans at a swap from I fellow I have no reason to suspect for mischief. However, he did say he thought the thing could just be stuck in a car and run. Turned out that all the rod cap fasteners and main cap bolts were less than finger tight and that the pistons were foreign to the cylinders they inhabited. ...Probably and anomaly but can you imagine what a startup would have sounded like--especially with all the dogs departing the neighborhood in a howling panic.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Hudson on Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 11:33 am:

I will be tearing it down this afternoon. I'll keep you all posted, and hopefully I won't need to do anything to it. At least I have a full set of gaskets bought when I started this project!!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Cushing on Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 01:59 pm:

When I got my T I was told the motor and tranny had been rebuilt years ago and it had about 500 miles on it. The motor had not been run for about ten years. So I pulled the inspection cover off the hogs head and the pan and found someone knew what they were doing it has new bands the drums look perfect the pistons are new and the cylinders look perfect too. All the cotter pins and safety wire was also in place. The motor is spotless inside which is more than I expected. The only way to know for sure what you got is to take a look. I got lucky I buttoned it up and its a driver. Joe


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James A. Golden on Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 07:14 pm:

Rob, I just printed that article and can send you a copy, if you send me your e-mail address.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Hudson on Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 08:24 pm:

Well, the engine looks good, still has shims, everything looks great, crank endplay within spec, etc. And its a canadian engine to boot!!!! 23 vintage, not as early as I hoped, but the price was right (trade for extra parts!!!!)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Hudson on Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 08:28 pm:

James, My email address is robert.hudson@emci.ca


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