- Joined
- Aug 18, 2002
- Messages
- 2,131
I'm getting ready to fire up my rebuilt 289-2V for the first time and want a sanity check to be sure I'm not missing any steps:
Fuel
Fuel
- Carb was running fine when I pulled the engine, but I cleaned out the bowl, float, jets, needle and seat with liberal sprays of carb cleaner to get rid of any varnish
- Right before engine start, pre-fill the bowl w/ fuel
- Fresh gas in the tank and manually pump some through at the engine bay side of the line to confirm no blockages or junk in the line
- Added a temporary clear fuel filter so I can confirm gas is pumping to the carb when I go to start the engine
- New spark plugs (gaps checked), new wires and new ignition coil
- Fully charged battery
- Distributor dropped in to align rotor with plug wire to #1 cylinder while at TDC position (compression stroke) This also corresponds with "0" tick mark on my new harmonic balancer
- Confirmed good ground wires from battery to block, from block to firewall
- Crankcase filled with break-in oil and fresh filter
- Right before I start the engine for the first time I'll manually prime it by spinning the pump shaft w/ a drill (did this already during engine assembly and verified oil getting to all rockers)
- Rebuilt C-4 transmission has 3 quarts in it now (torque converted wasn't pre-filled) so after the engine starts I'll add more as the converter fills up (8-9 quarts total)
- Rebuilt radiator filled with 50/50 mix of coolant. Will top off as needed once engine starts and all the air pockets work their way out
- Oil pressure gauge
- Vacuum gauge
- Timing light (planning on needing to be about 10-12 deg BTC, vacuum advance plugged)
- Transmission fluid and coolant to top off as needed
- Immediate startup (that's the plan anyway!)
- Run for 20 minutes at 2,000-2,500 RPM
- Change oil immediately after initial engine run