Everyone,

I plan on starting my '69 H/O for the first time in around 3 years and I'm looking for any tips you can give me.

I realize I should drain the tank of the old gas, I assume the easiest way to accomplish this is to drop the tank?

I'll also change the oil and check all the fluid levels.

Should I place a few drops of oil in each cylinder? Any other tips?

Thanks for the help.

Mike

 

Charge the battery and turn the key!!!

 

I'd put about 1/2 cup of Marvel Magic Mystery oil in each cylinder, and let it sit a day.
Next day, disconnect the coil, and turn the motor over to get the access out - use some rags to avoid a mess!
Put the plugs and wires back on, connect the coil, and start it! Vroom Vroom!!
Avoids broken rings from rusted cylinder walls!!

 

I would agree that some sort of oil in the cylinders would be good, but I would not get too picky regarding which kind, other than to avoid the very thin, such as penetrating oil. I suppose an ideal would be a 50:50 mix of ATF and acetone, which would penetrate everywhere before the acetone evaporated off, leaving the thicker oil to lubricate.

I would respectfully elaborate on what I think Rickman meant:
If you put ½ cup of oil in each cylinder, if the plugs are installed, you must first turn the engine over by hand with a wrench four revolutions (2 and then another 2 for good measure) to be sure that the oil is out of the cylinders.
That much oil in a cylinder being turned by the starter motor will bend rods, unless you do it with the plugs removed, which will just make a mess.

Personally, I would put in a couple of squirts of oil, let it soak, screw the spark plugs back in, wing it over a few times (spark plugs will prevent oil from being sprayed out of engine), then remove the spark plugs, crank it until you see good oil pressure, then replace the spark plugs, pour a little gas down the carb (half a cup is good ), screw the air cleaner back on (to prevent catastrophic backfires) and VROOOM!!

- Eric

 

I did exactly what I said on a '69 396 that sat outside for 6 years, without any problem.
Worked for me!!
Added 5 gals. of fresh gas, too! [leaded]

 

cool , this will come in handy when In try to get the 455 started

 

You might consider pulling the distributor and priming the oil pump... I have heard a few horror stories about a spun bearing after a long sit on account of the dry start.

 

All the above sound good, including priming by the oil pump shaft. If you want to empty gas tank, get a electric fuel pump and hook it to inlet line at fuel pump and just pump out old fuel. If it looks rusty maybe install an in-line filter before carb on start up.