Running my engine with the front clip off

[Joe Flanagan]

I've actually used the words "engine" and "run" in the same sentence. Thinking ahead, I'd like to be able to test run my engine while the front clip is off. I know there are various important things that attach to the inner fenders such as the battery, the solenoid, etc. I suppose I could Jerry rig these somehow, but does anyone have any suggestions? Also, my dash and gauges would not be installed (have to work out the woodgraining and chrome) but I suppose I would need at least the oil and temp gauges operating for a test run, no? These, too could be temporarily connected and mounted somewhere for observation. Just kind of thinking out loud and wondering if any of you have done this.

[woodie49]

You could really treat this as though it were on a stand. You need water, oil and fuel, and enough gauges to make sure everything is good. You need to hook up your radiator and the starter and solenoid. You can hook up an oil gauge and a temp gauge directly to the engine, they don't need to be in the dash. The gas is there and you don't really need the linkage. The exhaust system should be hooked up as well. Shouldn't be too hard, I have started engines on a stand before. It is kind of scary until you get used to it. But mounted in the frame should not be an issue.

[BobT-47P15]

Joe, you might review Mr Coatney's setup he used when running his DeSoto engine

on a stand in his garage prior to installation. Should be in his album somewhere.

[Don Coatney]

You just need the basics.

[Joe Flanagan]

I recall Don's test stand. Ingenious and way beyond me. In any case, the engine is in the car and I'm not taking it out. After I posted this, I figured out that I could just remount my dash with a few screws, hook up the appropriate gauges and mount them in the dash, and run it like that. I could rig up the battery somehow. At least this way I'll also be able to see if my gauges work. The big advantage is having the fenders out of the equation.

[1949P17BC]

Joe, I ran mine w/o the clip. I put the radiator support in and then mounted the radiator. Oil and temp I had them already out of the dash and then hooked them up and actually cable tied them inside the car. Solenoid and battery I took a boarrd and mounted the battery and cable tied it on the driver side upper a frame and then wired everything thru a togle switch. For fuel I used a lawn tractor gas tank, stubbed it right into the carb. Ran it a bunch to make sure everyting was working just right.

[Young Ed]

Joe here's what I did to mine after the crash. The dash gauges were still all installed of course but I needed a way to make it mobil for the frame shop.

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks for the posts. It looks like it just calls for some improvisation. My idea was to actually draw fuel from the tank rather than use some kind of interim reservoir. This way I could make sure everything is working and there are no obstructions in the system. But maybe this is adding too much potential for trouble. Maybe I ought to just isolate the engine and make sure it's OK, then introduce the fuel delivery system, though much of that will already be introduced via the pump and carb.

[Robert Horne]

No front clip, no problem. I drove my car several years like this. Gas can for fuel tank. battery in rear box. dash on supports. all gauges hooked up. plywood and van seat. worked good.

[Joe Flanagan]

Wow. Now THAT'S something my neighbors would like to see. If fact, I think that is what they were expecting to see when I got this car. What did you do, use really long battery cables? You said the battery was in a box in the rear?

[Robert Horne]

I bought new heavy gauge cable from the auto parts store. I built a wooden box, for the battery, tool box, etc, for some extra weight.

[PatS....]

How about a couple of aftermarket gages permanently mounted on the firewall in the little bezel they have for under dash mounting. Handy for anytime you're working on the engine to see the temp, oil pressure and amps anyway.

[dirty dan]

I've actually used the words "engine" and "run" in the same sentence. Thinking ahead, I'd like to be able to test run my engine while the front clip is off. I know there are various important things that attach to the inner fenders such as the battery, the solenoid, etc. I suppose I could Jerry rig these somehow, but does anyone have any suggestions? Also, my dash and gauges would not be installed (have to work out the woodgraining and chrome) but I suppose I would need at least the oil and temp gauges operating for a test run, no? These, too could be temporarily connected and mounted somewhere for observation. Just kind of thinking out loud and wondering if any of you have done this.

Joe,

Mine is set up the same way right now.

I have a battery sitting on the front right floorboard, ignition wire hooked up at the solenoid constant hot side, and the only dash item in line (dash is out of the car) is my starter button.

I'm connecting the battery via jumper cables, using the starter button to crank, and I kill the engine by disconnecting the jumper cables. I haven't (and don't recommend) getting on the street like this, but I do use it to move the car in and out of my garage.

Temp guage is Autozone cheapo laying across the cowl (windshield is out right now), oil pressure gauge is cheap gauge screwed directly into the block just above the starter.

PM me with e-mail address if you want to see pics.

Edited December 9, 2009 by dirty dan