Thread: firnig up an engine after sitting for a couple years ?

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I just bought a ranchero with a 429, I was just wandering if their is anything I should do before turning the engine over for the first time in two years. So I don't damage the cylinder walls, cam, crank. I don't want to tear the engine apart right now if I can get around it. Also I need to wire the ignition, and was needing a good resource for the wiring schematic of a 1978 ranchero(MSD ignition).

For the wiring schematic,,use the search function in this message board,,it's been gone over a few times i'm sure,,,,,for starting your motor after a couple of years,,,wont be much problem except dry cylinders and lifters,,,and bad gasoline,,,bad oil as well.
For the cylinders,,pull the plugs and squirt some diesel fuel down the cylinders,,wont hurt the motor any,,,,put fresh oil and filter in,,,get some gasoline conditioner and put it in the tank,,,parts store will suggest plenty of products,,,,would be a good idea to drain the carb float bowls as well,,,after you've done all this,,,take your distributor out and put a long shank bit on a drill,,then engage the oil pump drive at the base of the distributor hole,,and turn the drill on clockwise, for a couple of minutes( it's good if you have a manual oil pressure guage to see if you are pumping oil up to the top of the block.
After all that,,,check your wheel cylinders and calipers,,maybee swap out the brake fluid for the new "Non Corrosive silicon Brake fluid",,,,,new battery,,and you should be good to go,,,,oh yeah,,,test your cooling system,,especialy the thermostat,,,hell replace it too,,,then you wont have to think about it....and finaly Good Luck!!!.

Yup, what he said, get that oil changed, get some fresh gas in it. If you don't have any diesel, spray some WD-40 down the cylinders and let it sit for a few minutes, this will help loosen up anything that might be stuck and help your rings to re-seal. After sitting some of the engine gaskets may have dried out, but you won't know until you fire it.

Same with the brakes, after sitting you may have some of the rubber drying out. Check the system real good before you get it on the road and get some good brake fluid in it. Make sure your wheel cylinders and calipers don't leak. Inspect the rubber parts real well too, hoses and the master cylinder for leakage. You will sometimes see these parts fail after sitting, so work them before you drive it off and work them good, make sure you bleed them and work that pedal. Get some good gas in the carb before you fire it, this will help burn out the crappy stuff in the lines and what not. Good luck.

Thanks alot guys, I feel better about firing it up now. (without jacking something up anyway)

Unless the 429 is different, on a lot of fords you have to turn the oil pump counterclock wise (use a reversible drill)

counterclockwise is correct, same direction the rotor spins, if you go the other way, there is a chance of damaging the oil pump, which is no good

OOP's,,,My mistake on the Pump Direction,,Sorry,,,.

right on, does anyone know how difficult it is to drop a 429 into a pinto.(early 70's)

Did you want to carry the 429 somewhere?or install it ?
best idea is to build a chassis and put the pinto shell over it,the weight of the FE block alone is enough to spread the poor little pintos unibody at the front.
Decide if you are going to race or street drive your car and design the chassis to suit,not that hard really,just takes money,brains,time,......good luck

Thats kinda what I was thinkin, that's right up my alley since I've been fabricating and machining for about 8 years. If I did that it probably would have to be strictly strip.