Hello, I am a new member to this forum. I have a 31 A that I have "inherited" from my wife's dad. He acquired it in mid 70's. It ran at the time he drove it home. He started working on the car but lost interest as he was starting a new business at that time. Fast forward to 2025. I have the car with a lot of parts. I would like to see if the engine will run. I have not tried to turn it by hand yet. What would be the best procedure to do before I do this? I have read to put kerosine, Marvel Mystery, ATF into the oil and cylinders and let sit for a bit before trying to turn engine by hand. Is there a place where I can find a published procedure for this situation? Thanks for your advice and information.
31 A that has sat for 50 yrs.
- Thread starter bigjeffnc
- Start date
Ernie Vitucci
Well-known member
Good Morning...You might start with the videos of Paul Shinn on Youtube. There are a good many and several deal with the start up of 'A's that have not moved in years. I always remove the pan and clean it out...and drop and clean out the oil pump. Then go through the electrical system and clean and tighten all the connections. Use a small one gallon or so tank connected directly to the carburetor...Don't run anything through the gas tank until you have time to clean it out. Old gas can ruin an otherwise serviceable engine...Ernie in Arizona
Kurt in NJ
Well-known member
many time a engine that has been sitting that long the oil on the dipstick looks clean because all the “dirt” has fall out of suspension and there is a thick layer of sludge in the bottom of the pan many time blocking the oil pump intake.
If you go to drain the oil and it doesn’t come out that is a sure sign of a very heavy sludge buildup.
Do you have the hand crank ?
If you do hand crank it some and feel if it has compression— depending on how damp the storage was there is a wide variation in possibility.
refilling the oil puts oil on the dipper tray to oil the rods,removing the distributor and pouring oil down there can oil the mains but they can hold oil for many years
remove the spark plugs and crank the engine while blocking each plug hole with thumb or whatever and feel for some compression—- if no compression is felt look into plug hole for valve movement— sometimes valves stick open and can be pushed back down easily.
If you go to drain the oil and it doesn’t come out that is a sure sign of a very heavy sludge buildup.
Do you have the hand crank ?
If you do hand crank it some and feel if it has compression— depending on how damp the storage was there is a wide variation in possibility.
refilling the oil puts oil on the dipper tray to oil the rods,removing the distributor and pouring oil down there can oil the mains but they can hold oil for many years
remove the spark plugs and crank the engine while blocking each plug hole with thumb or whatever and feel for some compression—- if no compression is felt look into plug hole for valve movement— sometimes valves stick open and can be pushed back down easily.
Charlie Stephens
Well-known member
Welcome, put your general location in your profile. You can never tell how and when it will pay off.
Charlie Stephens
Charlie Stephens
I'll go out on a limb and speculate he may be in North Carolina...
I would not do anything until you pull the pan, take out the oil pump clean it, take off the valve cover and clean in there. Then clean out all the drain holes, chances are the valves may be frozen. I would also pull the head and clean up what you can and install a new copper gasket. If the valves are stuck you can tap them down to free them.
Then pour MM or kerosene in the cylinders and let it sit for a day or so and then try cranking it over without the head on.
Then pour MM or kerosene in the cylinders and let it sit for a day or so and then try cranking it over without the head on.
Chuck Dempsey
Well-known member
Jeff, can't give much advice, but welcome to the 'Barn.
Chuck (also WNC)
Chuck (also WNC)