Firing up a junkyard engine

[Hrududu]

Hello everyone. I have plans on buying a turbo engine for my 280Z, but before I do I would like to start it up in the donor car and see if there is anything noticeably wrong with it. I have made a list of supplies I think i would bring with me to do this. I figure there are many of you who have done this kinda thing before so if there is anything you think I should take with me, I would love to hear any suggestions you would have. Thanks

1. 2 gallons of gasoline

2. 6 or so quarts of cheap oil

3. Car Battery

4. Sea Foam

5. Set of sparkplugs

6. Carburetor Cleaner

7. Work rags

8. Water for the radiator

[Arne]

How long has the engine been sitting?

[ktm]

Spark plugs, wire brush/steel wool to clean electrical connections, multi-meter, noid light, compression tester (can do a compression test cold), 10mm through 14 mm sockets

[ChrisA]

Chris,

I took an old oil pump shaft, removed the gear and machined the distributor end to fit a cordless drill. With the modified shaft in place of the original shaft you can pre-lube an engine that's been sitting without having to turn over the entire reciprocating assembly. You might already know this though.

Good luck, sounds like my kind of fun. Just not today at 2 degrees. :tapemouth

Chris A.

[240znz]

Take a can of ether with you to squirt into the air cleaner. CRC make one called "engine start" and there is a Aussie crowd to label theirs "Start ya bastard". I doubt you have that in your neck of the woods but any product with ether in it will be fine.

You might need another set of hands to give you a hand so you can squirt just before firing it up. Ether evaporates very quickly.

[Hrududu]

How long has the engine been sitting?

Roughly 3 years I believe. I am told it did run when the car was parked.

[Arne]

Roughly 3 years I believe. I am told it did run when the car was parked.

Is it your intention to rebuild it anyway? If not, I'd be leery of starting ann engine that has been sitting that long - if there's any rust in the pores, you will be REQUIRED to rebuild it.

[Hrududu]

Is it your intention to rebuild it anyway? If not, I'd be leery of starting ann engine that has been sitting that long - if there's any rust in the pores, you will be REQUIRED to rebuild it.

A full rebuild. i'd rather not. I really haven't gotten any further inside an engine that changing the headgasket. I would probably open it and change out all the gaskets just because, but i would rather start up the engine before I buy it just to be sure it will work at all.

[beandip]

Roughly 3 years I believe. I am told it did run when the car was parked.

There is allot of prep work to be done for an engine that has been setting that long. Especially in your area of the country . If you were in AZ or Ca that would be different. I bought my engine with out hearing it run and All I did was to make sure it was not locked up. Pull the plugs and shoot some oil in the cylinders put a socket on the crank pulley and see if you can rotate the engine . If she will turn over , this is about all you can tell . at least the rings are not rusted in the cylinders . If you cannot turn the engine smoothly . PASS ! Dont try to turn it over with the starter ! If you have a stuck valve you can dammage a good engine .