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Need advice, starting an engine after 15 years.

Posted By theprof739 9 Years Ago
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theprof739
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Last Active: 9 Years Ago
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I'm restoring a 55 Crown Victoria, with the factory 2 bbl. 272 Y-block. she's been garaged since the mid 1970s and the engine was run routinely until my grandfather passed away in 2001. Since that time she has sat largely untouched. I've spent the better part of the past week reading various classic car/hot rod forum posts on starting a engine which has sat for a long time, and looking through magazine articles and books on the Y-block to familiarize myself with things.

As I'm waiting on the carb rebuild gaskets to arrive and I still need to pick up a new battery, the goal here is to get the engine to turn over by hand and ensure she isn't seized before attempting to start the car up.

This is what I have done so far:
1. emptied the gas tank of all old gas (carb. and fuel pump were unsurprisingly dry)
2. Drained the old oil, it was clean, color looked good, and no clumps or gunk 
3. removed the spark plugs and poured about a shotglass' worth of Marvel Mystery Oil into each cylinder
4. pulled valve covers, and using a new clean paint brush and eyedropper, lubricated the rocker arms, valves, springs, and upper pushrods with motor oil
5. Added 5 fresh quarts of oil (did not replace filter I intend the flush and change the oil again once the engine runs)

After about an hour (not very long, I know) I put a socket up the the bolt on the Vibration Dampener and attempted to rotate the crankshaft my hand, but could not get any motion. I didn't use much force, I didn't want to force it. My suspicion is that the piston rings might be stuck, some rust from humidity, that or some part of the valve train is stuck having sat for so long without oil as it had seeped it's way down to the pan.
Tomorrow or Tuesday I plan to try again, so my questions here are:

a) have I done everything I should have?
b) is there anything else I should do?
c) is there anything I should look out for?
d) how forecful should/can I be trying to turn it over?
e) if I get it to turn over completely a few times, would it be safe to start the car?
f) is there any questions I should have asked here but forgot?

I'm fairly new to auto resoration, so I'd appreciate all the feedback I can get. 

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Forum Post Need advice, starting an engine after 15 years. By theprof739 ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Even with the plugs out, it's not that easy to turn an assembled motor... By miker ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Thanks for the words of wisdom. I haven't had much experience hand... By theprof739 ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Where are you located? If you put your city and state in the tag line... By MoonShadow ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post First you need to be able to turn the motor over. As to the dizzy,... By miker ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Give the base of the distributor a soaking with a penetrating oil. Let... By MoonShadow ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Hex drive for oil pump shaft is 1/4". Make sure you turn CCW when... By Daniel Jessup ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Saw the pictures of the car. Looks like a keeper. Definitely... By Ted ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post [quote][b]Ted (5/30/2016)[/b][hr] Saw the pictures of the car. Looks... By Rowen ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Thanks so much for all your replies, I really appreciate it. I'll be... By theprof739 ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Definantly check the points and point gap before you try and fire it.... By Fty6Vic ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Good news, after letting the oil do it's work, it took only some stiff... By theprof739 ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post The path to the pictures was a hyperlink in the original post.... By Ted ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Thanks Ted, all of that was gobbledygook to an ol dinosaur like me,... By Rowen ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Yes, nice looking car, you are very lucky. By 30 coupe ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post To the OP, I looked at the photos as well, you have a very good car to... By Daniel Jessup ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post To the OP, one other thing that may be a help to you would be to... By Daniel Jessup ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Again thanks for all the replies, I think I'm going to to a new thread... By theprof739 ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Prof, From brodie knob (not sure of proper word here) to the 200MPH... By Bobwanna ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Cool car, a glass top too! Maybe along with the KM/H speedo, those... By Lord Gaga ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post This particular Glasstop Crown Victoria being a standard shift is... By Ted ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Well for all you keen eyed observers, you can check out my thread on... By theprof739 ( 9 Years Ago )
Forum Post Okay back for more help. Trying to turn her over with the starter. I... By theprof739 ( 9 Years Ago )


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