Rebuilt engine starting procedure

[zigzagsky]

Getting ready to start my engine for the first time following a full rebuild.

At the moment I am thinking of:

Disconnecting the coil and power to the fuel pump and spinning the engine over for a while to build up some oil pressure before starting. Is this best done with the plugs in or out?

Should I also squirt some oil into each cylinder before spinning on the starter? If so, how much?

Running above idle until warm (rebuilder recommends 2000 RPM) until fully warm, then shutting down and letting the engine cool fully before re-torquing the cylinder head bolts.

Any other tips?

[Moeregaard]

Before you do anything, ensure that there is oil in the sump. It's amazing how many newly overhauled engines have been wrecked by this small detail. I've always turned the engine over with the starter until I see oil pressure registered on the gauge. You definitely want the plugs out for this--your starter will thank you. A squirt of oil in the cylinders certainly won't hurt anything. Once the engine fires, getting the revs up to 1,500 RPM will get oil through the system and lubricate all the seals quickly. There will be some smells and smoke, but what you want to listen for are any odd knocks. Other than having someone standing by with a fire extinguisher, I can't think of anything else.

[christopher storey]

I use a garden sprayer at about 4 lbs/sq.in to feed 1 or 2 pints of oil through one of the plugs in the right hand gallery ( at the level of the oil filter ) . You will know you have thoroughly lubricated everything when you can see oil in the left hand camshaft bank with the oil cap off . This is slightly time consuming ( because in order to get the pressure you need to seal the plug properly - I made up one by soldering brake pipe into a drilled plug ) but it means everything is primed when you eventually get a start

[zigzagsky]

Thanks guys.

I have put oil in (double checked the levels - twice)!

Thanks for the info - good to know that I’m in the right area of what to do. I’ll squirt in some oil and spin her over with the plugs out as suggested before trying for real.

Advice on the initial running speed much appreciated. Hopefully i’ll Get her running tomorrow morning once I have double checked everything else.

Brian

[MikeMilton]

While on this topic, why do we not all have pre-oilers for cars that regularly sit a few days (or more, like over winter)? Accusump is a relatively affordable (and simple) solution. I'm installing a custom built electric pump.

[zigzagsky]

Went through the startup procedure and she fired up nicely. Very happy!

Got her up to temperature with just a small leak from othe bottom rad hose and another small weep of cool and from around one of the chrome head nuts. Hopefully this will go once I re torque the nuts after she has cooled overnight.

[Geoff Green]

Excellent! Great feeling when it goes as expected.