• The site migration is complete! Hopefully everything transferred properly from the multiple decades old software we were using before. If you notice any issues please let me know, thanks! Also, I'm still working on things like chatbox, etc so hopefully those will be working in the next week or two.

Firing Up Motor After 7 Months on Jack-Stands

CHI2000GTP

CHI2000GTP

New member
About ready to turn this b1tch over. Still has no brakes but wanna make sure she starts. Anything special for me to be aware of?

I’ll definitely be changing the oil and oil filter, and pouring in fresh gas. The tank was 1/4 full or less when I parked it. The battery will be charged... Anything else other then the obvious?
 


Prime it
Prime it
Prime it

Leave the ICM unplugged and crank it over a few times so the rotating assembly spins itself a bit. We've done that on all the 3800's built from scratch. Better to find something hanging up before you fire it up for real. Usually it's a much easier first start, too. Have a BS oil pressure gauge on it if you haven't (you can get them for less than $20~ at a local parts store. Think Sunpro lol)...and just get a mechanical one and run it through the wheel well or something temporary just to read pressure. I wasn't a huge fan of the electrical portion; I liked to know real world numbers.
 
Prime it. Got it!
And, Damn It! Is the oil pressure gauge really, really necessary? Engine was known to be running very well before parking it. Don't wanna buy and install another god damn thing right now. Just wanna get it welded already.
 
Well; I look at it this way.

Start it and pray. If the dummy light pops on then it's too late and you'll need a rebuild.

A gauge and an hour worth of install to me is worth it...but then again it's your car :D
 
Gauge was not necessary in my life. Although I do have one. Leave icm unhooked and crank it for 10 second spurts, because 10 actual seconds is a long time. Do that maybe 3-6 times.. Hook up ICM and let her start up. Don't rev it, don't abuse it.. just let it run. Then watch coolant etc as it should burp and want more.

What I've found is either the motor is good or bad. Hell my dad is driving a car that sat in a garage for 7 years w/o being started. I put a battery in it and fired it up. Ran on about 3 cylinders. I revved it slowly and there was a pop sound.. then it purred on all 6. 7 year old gas and oil. Within the week he had filled it with fresh gas and I had gone through all the gaskets etc. Car is still running fantastic 4 years later of around town putt'in which I personally think kills a car.
 
bah pull fuel pump relay, spin the motor for 10 seconds, and fire it up. No need to other hog wash you didnt even take the motor apart.

In your case I would just start it.
 


Yup. Zero engine work was done. It's everything around the engine that broke. HA! Putt'in around town definitely kills cars, BillBoost. My old man was nuts about reminding me of that since like age 14. Those short trips is how you get the milkshake in these cars.

I'm just gonna prime it a couple times and start it. Was trying to get out there tonight and work on it but got stuck at work.

It's OK to start it with it sitting on jackstands right?
 
Only thing that sucks about Jack stands is the fact that once you got it running, you'll want to drive it and the missing wheels are just another step to happiness! Lol...
 
Mann... tell me about it, coolone. I'm tired of fixing it and reading about how to fix it. Lol. I wanna F'in drive the thing already. I was out working on it yesterday and thought I was ready to start it but got snagged by some petty shyt. Shyt that needed to be done though. If all goes well, tonight, TONIGHT she will come alive.
 
Don't change the oil and filter before you start it.
Only change your oil and filter after the engine has been run and everything has oil on it and the oil galleys are full
 


Too late Turbo. Damn it. Oil has been drained and filter changed. As seen here:

http://www.grandprixforums.net/threads/103740-Luke-s-GTP?p=1479688&viewfull=1#post1479688

What's the risk? Seems counterintuitive. Wouldn't I want fresh oil pumping through the engine? My thinking was this: That old oil has been sitting, collecting moisture, changing composition... I don't know. Plus there wasn't a lot of oil left. My oil pan gasket is shot and ALL the bolt heads are wet. Over 7 months a bunch leaked out. I was also thinking to change the oil again after maybe 50 miles.
 
If the oil is in the pan. Then it shouldn't leak because it'll be below the level of the gasket. Clean it all up and fix whatever appears afterward. I'd kinda put serious coin on you noticing seepage starts at the driverside end of the pan. Aka rear cover gasket.

Don't touch it unless it's pissing if you don't feel like pulling the motor. Cause that's what that gasket entails.
 
Pulling the engine will be unavoidable. I'm tentatively planning for it. But only after I get to drive it an enjoy it for a few months. Car has been curbed too long. But your right, oil should be in the pan. Must be the rear cover. Damn it.

I really wanna know why Turbo recommends not changing the oil and filter before startup.
 
it cant hurt to change the oil. and they are all right, a parked car should not be leaking.

you just might have enough old sludge on it and its still wet.
 
I had a leak on one.. sitting still it leaked. There was so much oil waiting to seep, it seemed like it was leaking. Did a pan and now it's dry. But that rear cover has been 100% an issue on every motor
 


With plans to keep the car as a DD for the next 5-10 years I'm gonna have to pull the sucker out and re-gasket it from head to toe. I've already done some reading on it. From what I understand that rear gasket is paper and can be a b1tch to clean/scrape off.

When I look at the springs through the oil hole I can see small puddles in there. Likely still wet.

Took the day off tomorrow to mess with it. Gonna be great weather out here. Tomorrow TOMORROW she will come alive...bWaaHaha. Need to make a junkyard run as well and grab some rotors from an 06+ Impala to use temporarily. Really hopeful I just get lucky and find a good pair. Maybe pads too.
 
I pulled tons out and never painted. Painting is a waste of time IMO. I always drove with the hood down and the engines came painted from the factory. that's enough rust protection.

The rear gasket is no worse than any other gasket to scrape off. Just another gasket that can go bad after enough miles etc. Plus they put that cover on with no loctite on the bolts and a low torque value. Heck.. when you pull the motor, you'll likely be able to turn a couple of those bolts with your fingers.
 
I want to paint it. I'm gonna paint it. Thing is, I want a flat primer grey, or a flat white. Haha. But all that is 6-8 months away. Kinda looking forward to it tho. Nice dry engine, clean and painted. Clean engine bay.... one day.

Anyway, driving out to the car now. Bright and early. Pretty siked to turn the key! I'll post a video later. Lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top