tight engine

[Clem Clement]

My restore 40Merc engine appears tight. She has 500 miles on the rebuild over 22 years. I'm told synthetic oil will help. Starter struggles to turn the engine over. New battery. She has clean 10W40 oil now

[russcc]

The rebuilt/built 59L engine with strong compression in the '40 was too much for the 6 volt system, so I had to change over to 12 volts.

[tubman]

I had the same problem with a $5500 rebuild of the original 327/350 engine in my '67 Corvette (it's just a SBC). It pegged the oil pressure gauge all of the time and would overheat if left to idle for more than5 minutes. I was just about ready to tear into it after about 800 miles when it seemed to "break in" and would idle at a reasonable temperature. I still had to replace the Hi-Volume/Hi-Pressure oil pump with a standard unit before it would idle and run at the proper oil pressure figures.

It seems that some of these guys pride themselves at building these engines at the tightest limit of clearances as a matter of pride, no matter the end result.

[Floyd]

Drive it another 500 miles and report back. Also swap out the starter with a known good performing starter that has shown to be good, not just one that has said to be good or "rebuilt" or worst of all "new".

[KiWinUS]

Do you have an OPTIMA battery. If not get one. Cheers
Tony

[Ken/Alabama]

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And a good starter relay. They get burned and pitted over time.

[Lawson Cox]

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

My restore 40Merc engine appears tight. She has 500 miles on the rebuild over 22 years. I'm told synthetic oil will help. Starter struggles to turn the engine over. New battery. She has clean 10W40 oil now

Driving it no more than 500 miles in 22 years, the darned thing probably has internal RUST, RATS, ROACHES and no telling what else. Drive the damn thing Clem.

[Lawson Cox]

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

My restore 40Merc engine appears tight. She has 500 miles on the rebuild over 22 years. I'm told synthetic oil will help. Starter struggles to turn the engine over. New battery. She has clean 10W40 oil now

That's less than 23 miles a year Clem. You should put more miles on it than that just driving it on and off a trailer. It's probably rusted up inside, not to mention all sorts of critters that have crawled up the exhaust pipe and died. DRIVE the damned thing Clem.

[cas3]

I agree, drive the hell out of it Clem!

[Clem Clement]

Thanks guys. It is getting the old tired nut behind the wheel running again. I'm chasing varicose veins and stiff walking these days. I made it around the block first time by myself yesterday. Heart is strong.

[Clem Clement]

Thanks guys. I'm working on getting me going as well

[KiWinUS]

You got this Clem.
Pulling for you mate.

[mfirth]

Drive it & yourself at a "reasonable rate". Inch by inch, anything's a sinch. Oh, & pray ALOT too. Hang in there Clem !
mike

[mfirth]

Happy thanksgiving everyone !!!!