[Amc-list] Starting an HEI engine on the ground

[d stohler <das24rules@xxxxxxxxx>]

after rebuilding an engine, i usually start it on the stand before installation. these engines are pretty easy to fire like you want. make sure you have it secured so it does not twist around on you. i usually have them on the engine stand, and then also have a chain mounted in atleast 2 points on the motor, with my hoist just barely tight on the chains. 

to fire the engine, you will need to hook up the battery + to the starter, - to a bolt on the block. have you a jumper wire to the "energize" post on the starter to strike on the + terminal on the battery. you will need a wire running from the + terminal on the bat to the energize wire on the dizzy. the hei has the coil mounted on top of the dizzy. i have seen some that need another wire going to the coil. others are powered off just 1 wire going into it. depends on the dizzy how many wires there are. some have a ground wire you also need to hook up. 

my suggestion, if the engine has not run in a while, leave the power wire to the dizzy unhooked, and crank the engine for a minute or so to get oil circulating around in it before firing. if availible, electric carburated fuel pumps (5-6or so psi) work GREAT for these types of test firings. 

if one has had much experience doing this type of thing, it can be running in just minutes if everything is availible. 

main thing, just make sure it is secure. would be a nasty deal if it was just sitting on an old tire like a lot of people do, fire it up, and the torque just flops it right over and tears things up, oil everywhere ect. also, either do not run it long with no water, or, as i have done before also, pop out the t-stat, and run a garden hose to the water pump. they will head up real quick with no water. 

dave stohler
my rambler pics@
http://picasaweb.google.com/das24rules


      
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