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I want to start the engine before I replace the body to make troubleshooting (or starting over)easier. I have the ignition harness connected to all of the appropriate places (starter, alternator, voltage regulator, ballast resistor, ground) and plugged into the main under dash harness. The plan is to turn the key as though the body were in place. Any words of wisdom or caution here? I am particularly concerned that with all of the dangling harness connections that it might be easy to create a short.
Re: Starting engine before replacing body on frame
If you want to just "hear her run" I'd forget about the wiring harness.
I'd connect a wire from the battery via a switch or alligator clip to the coil.
I'd connect the battery to the block (-) and to the starter (+) Install a start switch between the (+) and "S" terminal on the starter solenoid and start it. Of course don't run it long (15 sec???) as there is NO water. Don't forget to add oil and gas.
Don't forget to prime the oil pumping system before attempting to start... especially if the engine has just been overhauled and plug the oil pressure line port. Make darn sure its in neutral!!!!!
Frankly I don't think you are going to prove much by doing this......
Re: Starting engine before replacing body on frame
I agree with Steve's response. I think unless you are in the business of rebuilding engines and are checking it before you give it to customer, you're better off putting the car together first. With the car together and all wiring properly hooked up, you can break in the engine while monitoring the charging system, temperature, oil pressure, etc. at the gages.
Re: Starting engine before replacing body on frame
I did this with mine. I added the radiator so I could run it long enough to adjust the valves, check for leaks and any mechanical problems before the body was installed. Simple wires as discribed with a switch and a button. I've got the simple wire diagram. If you need it, Email me.
LP
Re: Starting engine before replacing body on frame
I agree Larry. If the engine is fresh and has not been run, I think it's a good idea to build a fire in it before the body is in place. It really doesn't take long to wire it and install a temporary cooling system and any problems/leaks etc can easily be corrected at this time, especially if it involves removing the engine for more serious problems. Something as simple as a rear main oil seal leak would be a major disaster if the car was complete with body in place. I've seen this happen many times.
If the engine has been run in or dyno tested after rebuild, then I would probably not bother with running it again before body installation.
Re: Starting engine before replacing body on frame
I should have mentioned that I have the radiator and gauges in place. I rebuilt the engine, and you touched on most of the things I was concerned about.
Re: Starting engine before replacing body on frame
I ran mine out of a gas can and a battery. I put a hose between the water pump in and out looping them ran a garden hose in the heater inlet on the water pump and a sort oulet to let the water run out. Turn the water on and start the engine. You can control the temp. by how fast the hose is running. Ran the engine for 45 min. Also had a temp gun to check the temp. It was easy and quick.
Mike
Re: Starting engine before replacing body on frame
Don't forget to put oil in your transmission....if it's dry, you can wreck a lot of stuff in there, it spins as fast as the engine. Something to think about.
Re: Starting engine before replacing body on frame
It was going to be some time before the paint was ready and I was doing the paint with the body off the car so we ran a few wires, set the radiator on a 2x4 on the front crossmember with a fan in front of it, and bought a couple of $10 oil pressure and water temp gauges from the local autoparts.
Besides breaking in the engine I was able to check for any leaks or other issues before having to work on the engine with new paint on the car. If I Do it again, I'll do it the same way. Could have thrown a lawn chair on the chassis and gone around the block!
There is a very well known person that posts on this board and others that fires his engines on a three legged engine build-up stand after he redoes the distributors. engine front support goes from the forward leg up to the front of the block. Uses a garden hose too. I won't divulge his name as he is ducking Katrina right now and can't defend himself.
Re: Starting engine before replacing body on frame
I have done this with success. I used a shop fan to create some semblance of moving air across the radiator, monitored the temperature, oil pressure, and voltage while breaking in the cam, and had no problems whatsoever. And it gave me peace of mind knowing all things worked as planned before setting the body back on. Good luck!
Re: Starting engine before replacing body on frame
I've done this routinely at least a dozen times for every car I've built over the last 20 years; I make up a temporary support from 2x4's for the partial cluster, ignition wiring, resistor, coil, power and ground junctions, strap the support to the frame, feed the fuel pump from a can, park the battery on the floor, fill the cooling system, put a box fan in front of the radiator, run dryer flex tubing from the sidepipes out under the garage door, and let it rip. It's a lot easier to deal with powertrain issues without the body in the way (this photo is from my tube-frame Grand Sport):
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