When I Start My Engine

[Joe Flanagan]

Just kind of planning ahead to the big day. I'll be running the wiring soon. I will only be installing the wiring I'll need to start the engine. I plan to have the temp gauge, ammeter, and oil pressure gauges temporarily hooked up so I can monitor them. My question is how do I actually start the thing? I'm imagining some hotwire type of arrangement. I wasn't planning on installing the key cylinder and ignition switch and all that yet, so I was thinking more in terms of either touching two wires together hotwire style or rigging up some kind of temporary switch. Any advice?

[1949P17BC]

Joe, I used a remote switch (toggle) battery, ground, relay, coil smarter guys can tell you the sequence

[daddyo23]

You could use a starter switch. Used to sell them. a push button switch with 2 10 gauge wires with aligator clips. Hook one to power on the batt and one to the starter solenoid.Push and go.

[randroid]

Joe,

You'll also need power to the coil, but that's a simple jumper wire. When you're finished testing simply disconnect the wire and the engine will stop.

-Randy

[blueskies]

Joe-

I just used my starter switch. I had it out of the dash, and just wired it up under the hood. Drove the car around a bit that way for the first drive around the block.

Pete

[Niel Hoback]

Use a piece of 12 or 14 guage wire with alligator clips on the ends so you can just swat them off if you need to stop the engine in a hurry. Connect the wire to the negative battery terminal and the negative terminal of the coil. Touch the end of the negative battery cable to the starter terminal, and keep your hands away from the fan blades.

[greg g]

[JIPJOBXX]

Say a hale Mary and then crank!

[greg g]

Are you bringing religion into this discussion??????????????

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks very much for all that information. I think that's everything I need to know. Very much appreciated.

I'll be saying some kind of prayer when that moment comes. I never built an engine before. I was very careful when I did it but it was seven years ago and then I went on to other parts of the project and the engine sat on a stand in my garage all that time. I just hope I didn't overlook anything or make any mistakes. Maybe I'll get a metal colander out of the kitchen and wear it on my head just in case nuts and bolts start flying.

[Niel Hoback]

Don't forget to put oil in it !!!

[greg g]

Joe it is advisable to crank the starter with ign off or disconected, till you see oil pressure i the gauge. It is easier and quicker if you pull the plugs for the first spin over till you get pressure. Mine will push nearly 30 on the starter alone.

I will light a candle for you..........

[Young Ed]

Joe he never explained the reason to me or Dad but our flathead guru that builds our engines always has us run straight 30 non detergent oil for the first few 100 miles.

[Joe Flanagan]

Thanks Greg and Young Ed.

Should I pull all the plugs on the initial crank? And how high should I get the oil pressure before I actually start?

I thought I read somewhere that you drain the oil after a certain amount of break-in time. I seem to recall it wasn't a whole lot of time.

If I forgot to put oil in it you guys would never hear from me again. I'd just disappear.

[Young Ed]

We did 200-250 miles.

[Jim Yergin]

Joe,

I know you will also remember to re-torque the head bolts after running it.

Jim Yergin

[PatrickG]

I was very careful when I did it but it was seven years ago and then I went on to other parts of the project and the engine sat on a stand in my garage all that time.

I was in the exact same situation you're in when I was ready to start mine. Spin it up to build some oil pressure, it'll crank for a couple seconds with little change and then you should see it climb up to about 30 lbs.

After that, all that you ca do is just take a deep breath, and hit that button! I'm sure it'll fire right up.

[Joe Flanagan]

Woo-wee. That'll be something else.

Yes, Jim, I've got the second head bolt torque on my schedule. The second valve adjustment, too, which I'm not looking forward to.

[greg g]

As noted you want to crank it till you get some oil presure showing on the gauge, that way your bearing will have gotten some oil pior to trying to start. Crak it till the needle isn;t going any higher. Then give her a go. Did you do the static timing exercise to get it linned up to TDC??

[Joe Flanagan]

Yes, everything is lined up. Number one is on the compression stroke with the rotor pointing to seven o'clock and the timing marks on the crank and cam gears aligned. (If that is what is meant by static timing).

[Joe Flanagan]

I also wanted to mention that I have some nagging last minute details to take care of, which, the way I've been working lately, might take me a long time to get out of the way. Radiator needs to be checked and boiled out. I still need to put new brushes in my starter. Have to tighten down the bolts on the rear motor mounts, have to install the gauges and their respective lines/wires. We got eight inches of snow yesterday, so that will slow me down, since I have to work pretty much outdoors. Is it OK to run this thing without the air cleaner for a bit?

[greg g]

Just don't pour any sand down it while it running. Do not over tighten the rear motor mounts.

Geeze we only got an inch or snow of new stuff. Down to 0 at night though.

Not a bad idea to do a list annd check it off. Also make sure you no big vacuum leaks like the wiper line before you try to start.

[Rollie���]

You taking video of the first startup, right Joe?

[Joe Flanagan]

Don't know if I want that on record, Bob. Seriously, I probably will take video. I have the wiper vacuum device out and am cleaning it up so that I can re-install and plug that hole in the intake manifold.

Looking at the wiring diagram for the P-18, I notice there are at least two wires in the starting/ignition system that run to the horn relay. Are these necessary for me to start the engine or are they just part of the daisy-chain design that was discussed here earlier?

[greg g]

The horn wires can be left off as log as their is direct connection from ign hot to the coil.