TAC Tech => Mechanical => Topic started by: Tinindian6702 on September 24, 2021, 01:46:05 PM
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Hi
I have had my 78 Firebird stored for over 3 years. I wanted to know what you recommend before starting for the first time. Before it was parked it had a new GM crate engine installed. I know its not a Pontiac engine but in my defense it replaced a factory 305 SBC. It is the all aluminum engine: Heads block etc...
I never put in any gas stabilizer. (I know :-(). What are the first things you would do before starting? Thanks in advance.
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First thing that comes to mind... change all fluids.
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Check the oil level and consistency. Pull the plugs. Spray a good lubricant into each cylinder and turn the engine over several times. If you have an oil primer, use it in place of the HEI...over and over to pump up the lifter with oil and lub the bearings. Pull a sample of the gas from the tank. If it smells like lacquer thinner, drain as much as you can and put in half a tank of fresh gas. Replace the oil primer with the HEI, make sure the plugs are in and the plug wires are correct. Prime the carb... through the vent tube. Three or four pumps on the throttle and it should fire up. May have to play with the timing just a little but make sure your mark the position before you pull the HEI.
I have my original 305 in a box and this year it will have to be fired on the engine cradle. The above method is what I do when it needs to be fired up.
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When you pull the dipstick what does the oil look like? If it’s not milky or sludgy you can run the engine for a few minutes enough to warm the oil before you change it.
Before you crank or try to start the engine I would prime the engine oiling system. This would can be done by removing the distributor and using an electric drill and priming shaft. You can make one from an old distributor by removing the shaft and grinding of the cam drive gear. Run the drill for a couple minutes after you show oil pressure. This will lube all the bearing surfaces before you put a load on them. I think Chevy distributors turn clockwise, the opposite directions of Pontiac. If you Google this process you can see online videos of how to.
I would pull all the plugs and give each cylinder a little shot of engine oil. Just a little bit, you don’t want to have hydraulic lock. Once you put the distributor back in, crank the engine over a few times before installing the plugs to lube the cylinders.
Once you put the plugs back in you can try to start it by pouring a small amount of fuel down the carb. If it starts, you can see if it will run off the old fuel in the tank. It’s possible you will have to drain the tank and clean the carb.
Oops, sorry I did not see Blackbirds post.
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Thank you for the comprehensive answers. I appreciate it. Hopefully I will be up and running soon.
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You got great advice, good luck and keep us posted.
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Hi
I have had my 78 Firebird stored for over 3 years. I wanted to know what you recommend before starting for the first time. Before it was parked it had a new GM crate engine installed. I know its not a Pontiac engine but in my defense it replaced a factory 305 SBC. It is the all aluminum engine: Heads block etc...
I never put in any gas stabilizer. (I know :-(). What are the first things you would do before starting? Thanks in advance.
I concur with all of the advice above, and might even suggest a carb rebuild/replace. 3 years isn't that long of a time to have a car parked, but if it was parked with ethanol fuel in the carb, it could be pretty bad inside. Can we get some pictures of this all aluminum SBC?? I wasn't aware that GM ever made an aluminum crate SBC. Sounds pretty sweet if you ask me.