Thread: 454 startup after 7 years

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I have been working on my old truck 1986 Chevy with a 1976 454 trying to get it running. One day the truck just quit and after putting a new fuel pump on it, plugs, cap rotor it still wouldn't start unless I poured gas in the carburetor. I had so many things to do I let time get away from me. Then when I wanted to try to start it I wanted to make sure I didn't do any damage. The guy that had it before me put a lot of money in a rebuild. I bought one of those priming tools that Tech posted but I really didn't want to pull the distributor and I didn't think I would have enough room for a drill to turn the oil pump. I bought an air impact wrench but ended up pulling the plugs and filling them up with fresh oil 5w30 I wanted over a week with the plugs back in. I had to take the shroud off but I had to take the fan blade off to get the shroud out of the way to get to the crank bolt. I tried it with a breaker bar with the plugs in and it turned so I took them out and turned it until I could turn I could turn the crank with a 1/2 ratchet.

After Dr. appointments and sinus surgery then seeing a Heart Dr. the EKG said I had a Heart attach. I got back to the truck. I wanted to change the oil and filter and that was a job in itself. The spiders rust plus thinking about the mice that have been all around the truck was not pleasant.

The oil filter was real close to the headers so I couldn't get a wrench on it, I drove a screwdriver through it and it was a good thing I had a tarp under the truck.

Anyway new fuel pump, gas filter, oil and filter I was going to by new plugs but they looked ok. I put a battery in poured some gas in the carb and it fired right up it ran until the gas was burnt I put some more gas and again it fired right up.

Today I put the new gas filter hooked up lines and ran a line in a gas can.
It fire up and was running from the pump now. That was a good feeling after all the prep work I did.

Barb got me motivated with her engine swap thread. Thanks Barb.

First picture first fire up blew the mice nest out of the pipes what's left of them since they have rusted off.

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I have a link to Youtube of the truck running.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2dbf-s5Has





Richard

mmmmmm, BBQ'ed mouse!!!! plate me up some...................lol............glad to see you're doing well now, that's the most important. 2nd...you got the motor running.
I also had sinus surgery last Dec, what a pleasure to breathe without nasal spray!!

sunsetdart,
Yeah the mice had a good thing going now it's over for them. I had an MRI of my brain; they were looking for something that was causing other problems and the saw a cyst on the nasal cavity. That led to an EKG before surgery, which indicated I had a heart attack at sometime. At least I can breath better and my wife says I don’t make so much noise now when I'm sleeping.

Richard

Glad to see you up and posting Richard. Funny how those preop EKG's are full of surprises. Last Fall before my throat surgery, they did the pre-op EKG. Had a message on my answering machine that said the surgery was off due to abnormal EKG, and if I had any questions to call the office on Monday! I called them immediately, only to find out I have a Left Bundle Branch Heart Block. I asked a Pediatrician I work with to look at the EKG. He said it was odd to have this, since he only sees this condition in kids, after open heart surgery. I now have a cardiologist too. I guess my hearts o.k. for now, but they now see me once a year!

Anyway back to the truck....Way to go! Looks like it's in nice shape other than a little rust in the usual spots! Might be fun to paint her and make it a logo on the side!
Love those old Chevy's! Liked the video too, nothing like a good rumble under the hood!

Thanks Steve,
Yeah for a while I had a few things going on at the same time. I had to wait four Months to see the Heart Dr. The Heart Dr. said if he had seen my EKG he would have had me in right away for a stress test. He did an EKG in his office and said it was fine. He had me do the stress test my Heart rate up to 158 and I still could go further so he said their machine sometimes gives a wrong reading. It has made a believer out of me, now I’m trying to eat right and exercise.

I was real happy when the truck started up right away. The old truck comes in handy for getting around the property to clean up falling trees and things. I would really like to have that engine in the 50 ford with the chopped top but I doubt if that will ever happen. I have a lot of catching up to do with all the post I’ve missed. I’m like you I will see the Heart Dr. now once a year unless I need to get in sooner.

Thanks Steve

Richard