My Creature Has Life!

Scott H

Scott H

Well-known member
http://www.youtube.com/embed/W8GRQHsAVjI?rel=0

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I've reached that wonderful moment in restoration when you finally hear your engine come to life!

I just wanted to test and make sure its gonna work before I go thru all the bother to put on the fenders, cab, etc.

I put a few ounces of gas in the carb, put the carb top back on.
I hooked up my Optima...(+) to ground and (-) to starter switch and coil.
no radiator yet, so only want to test for a few seconds.

I have a little gas tank off a piece of lawn equipment and I ran a short fuel line to the fuel pump but I wasn't ready to run it that long yet, maybe after the radiator is in. For now I just ran it off the gas in the carb.

Fired up on the first revolution, coughed and died. Hit the button again and it fired and revved up and ran for about 10 seconds. Good enough for now!

Talk about a great feeling, and hearing that throaty flathead thru open Red's headers!
:D :D :D

(PS - no, that isn't a clear container of gasoline in the background behind the battery. Its white vinegar I was using to flush out the fuel line and the lawnmower gas tank)
 
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Oh, oh, what a feeling!

The guy who rebuilt my engine that he's done hundreds of times over 40 years said he is always just as excited to fire up a rebuild as he was the very first time.

Here's the short version of mine called It's Alive! with guest star Gene Wilder. (Only 37 seconds) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xhb5zg4pi8
 
Old Henry said:
Oh, oh, what a feeling!

The guy who rebuilt my engine that he's done hundreds of times over 40 years said he is always just as excited to fire up a rebuild as he was the very first time.

Here's the short version of mine called It's Alive! with guest star Gene Wilder. (Only 37 seconds) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xhb5zg4pi8
Click to expand...

Yep, that's exactly the feeling!
Love your engine start up and thanks for sharing (I've watched that vid before but was nice to see again!)
This is my first flathead start-up so I was a bit apprehensive, but it actually went easier than when I've done my 289's.
I used to have a standing bet with one of my guys in my shop. When I went to start a rebuilt 289 if it didn't start on the first turn of the key (3-5 seconds) I would buy lunch. I don't ever recall having to buy lunch over an engine not firing on the FIRST try. It makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end when I see these 'motorheads' on tv try to start an engine and they keep playing around with the distributor trying to get the timing close enough to get the engine to run. If you do it right you won't have to do that.
 
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