make engine run. What goes where?

B

b ramsey

Member
I just want to see if this runs. I will connect to small gas tank.
6 volt battery, positive ground.
how does coil wiring get hooked up and connected to distributor?
can it be ran without water for a minute or so?

like i said, i just want to see if it runs, not drive around the block.
 

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I would turn it over with the spark plugs out and ensure that oil is circulating ok before starting it. Once you're happy then connect 1) HT wire from center of distributor top to coil HT connection 2) connect one of LT coil terminals to the pop out cable that runs into the distributor (and thus takes the juiceto the points and condenser) . 3) connect the other coil LT terminal to to the live ( in your case the negative) battery terminal.
No need to worry about coil polarity for this little exercise and a carb bowl of gas is more than enough. I wouldn't run it for more than a few seconds without water.Stop it by disconnecting one of the Lt wires
 
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Positive side of battery to ground, negative to starter. I use a wire with a alligator clip from starter to coil and then another wire from coil to dist. Coil should be marked plus or neg. To stop remove clip from starter.
 
I don't recommend running an engine for less than about 30 minutes. In the 70's I locked up 2 engines by running them only 5 to 10 minutes. I tried to run them 6 months later and they were locked up tight.

If you do a short run, at least remove the plugs and pour in lots of oil and crank the engine over by hand with the plugs out to pickle the engine.
 
b ramsey said:
should i fill engine with water first?
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Yes, and if you don't have a radiator connected then I'd remove the fan belt. Not only for safety, but if you spin the generator without it being connected to a battery you can burn it out.

I have connected a garden hose to the lower water inlet and turned the water on to a slow flow and let it run out the top. This way you can run the engine for 30 minutes without trouble.
 
"In the 70's I locked up 2 engines"
Tom, that seems odd. To what do you attribute this ?

And to the OP, please do not put raw water in that block, use 50% antifreeze. You have enough rust in there already. ppl forget that antifreeze has an anti-corrosion additive. But, yes, put antifreeze in the block and be sure to leave the fan belt off. And whatever you do run for no longer than 1-2 min. If you must run it this way at all.
 
tbirdtbird said:
"In the 70's I locked up 2 engines"
Tom, that seems odd. To what do you attribute this ?

And to the OP, please do not put raw water in that block, use 50% antifreeze. You have enough rust in there already. ppl forget that antifreeze has an anti-corrosion additive. But, yes, put antifreeze in the block and be sure to leave the fan belt off. And whatever you do run for no longer than 1-2 min. If you must run it this way at all.
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I ran both engines, a 63 Studebaker Lark 6 and my 1929 Chevy 6, for only 5 to 10 minutes then shut them off. This short run left condensation in the cylinders and caused rust/corrosion to form and lock the pistons in place. Since this happened I never start an engine, unless it runs for at least 30 minutes in summer, or 45 minutes in winter.

I park my Model A at the first salt dumping in the fall, and I don't touch it until a couple good rains have washed the roads of all salt. The only thing I'll do is put a battery charger on it for 30 minutes if it's been a few months since being parked and I happen to be in the garage doing something. I really should put the charger on a little more often, but this junk yard battery has already given me over 8 years of service, and is still going strong.:)

BTW, I know it's tempting to hear a new engine run, but if this was mine and I built it, it would have grease on the bearings and cam lobes, so I wouldn't start it until I was ready to drive the car.
 
Drag racers don't run any water in them (funny cars or rails) of course they only turn over about 500 times in a 1/4 mile.
 
it RUNS! and runs good. made a hose adapter to run water thru it, hooked up coil, borrowed popout thing from another engine and coil wire frome my '71 f250, hooked up a gas can, sucker fired right up. thanks guys. now to sell it.
 
johnbuckley said:
Tom Wesenberg said:
I don't recommend running an engine for less than about 30 minutes.

Er Tom , I don't get this... what if the office is only a 15 minute drive away?
Or are you talking about laying up the engine for several months in which case it's a different scenario.
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Yes, if the car isn't to be driven for a couple weeks or more, then I wouldn't do a short run. Even daily driving isn't really daily driving for me anymore. I like to wait until I have at least 3 or 4 places to go, then make the trip in one circle hitting those spots. This saves gas, keeps some traffic off the road, and takes less time overall out of my free time, plus it extends the life of the car.:) I also try to pick dry days, especially in the winter with road salt.
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