Engine in the car for decades.
 

59A engine in my car with no spark plugs needs lubrication and prep before turning over. I would like some pressure to the crank to avoid dry rotation. Should I use low viscosity or just some oil normal to the engine? I expect to encounter rust in the upper cylinder due to the plugs being out so long. It would be nice to start the engine in the car or is the prognosis poor for any chance to be able to run. The last such sengine I assembled was torn down completely, and found to be in tempting condition, so tempting that I ignored the sloppy relief job. I hate amateur mods. If a search of this site is in order, what would I ask for? Thanks: Fred A

Re: Engine in the car for decades.
 

Marvel Mystery Oil would be a good bet.

Re: Engine in the car for decades.
 

If the engine still has the original oil in it, then I'd at least pull the pan, clean out all the solidified oil/gunk in the bottom of it - before I turn it over at all. You can pull the oil plug and see what "goo" comes out to first assess the situation.

If it has the sludge that is usually in the bottom (due to non-detergent oil separation), then the last thing you want is that oil pump trying to pump that crap through your bearings. Pull the pan, clean it out, checkout the oil-pump at the same time, check the bearings and then put it back together.

Re: Engine in the car for decades.
 

If you can pull the pan, pull the intake manifold also.
I used a small pump, put a large pan on the floor and used a
brush to clean out the top and the bottom.
Use the oil pressure sender hole on the block to send oil,
whatever you're going to run.
Top end I like the Marvel oil idea, but whatever you have- OK. Turn the engine over, back and forth -by hand- until it will rotate a complete turn.

Karl

Re: Engine in the car for decades.
 

Karl nailed it, and just to clarify, turn it over by hand just a couple of degrees or so back and forth, feeling and testing the resistance, increasing only as it frees up.

Re: Engine in the car for decades.
 

Was this a half or fully worn out engine when it sat for decades? IF so I would disassemble the whole thing as it probably needs to be rebuilt and is full of sludge . If it had been rebuilt and sat for 30 or 40 years you might get by with posts 2,3 and 4. How stuck do you think the rings are in the pistons if there is rust in the cylinders of the pistons that are down?
Short cuts usually end up costing you more than if you hadn't taken them.
Just my 2 cents.

Re: Engine in the car for decades.
 

My 1937 Ford sat in storage for about 50 years with an engine that operated fine when parked. The car went into storage in the early 60s and was reportedly started in 1990. The car again sat for over 20 more years before I bought it. The engine was free and turned. Marvel Mystery Oil used for a few weeks. Once the fuel and spark issues were addressed, the car started right up and has run pretty good since then. This how it looked when I got it home.


Good luck with the car. I hope you can get it going without too much trouble.

Re: Engine in the car for decades.
 

I love bringing a crusty old V8 back to life.

Re: Engine in the car for decades.
 

Re: Engine in the car for decades.
 

Tomorrow I'm getting the '41 car towed to my home. Didn't expect to buy it, as I have very promising '40 project that is the best I've ever had, of eight. More money than brains, I just am curious about the '41. I thought a friend was going to take it and I spent some time on his behalf. Now the thing is mine. I bought some Marvel Mystery Oil and expect to get some upper cylinders wet. I spent more time looking at my 99T engine to evaluate what I have as a backup. Film at eleven: Fred A