hi everyone, i have read many posts and found alot of info on this site, but this is my first time with a post of my own. so i have a 351 cleveland sitting in a 72 mustang that was wrecked back in 02, the engine ran perfectly when the car was runing but if my math is accurate that mean the engine has been sitting for roughly 8 year without even being cranked over. i talked to a buddy of mine and asked him if he thought i would be really risking scoring the cylinder walls if i were to try to manually turn the crank. he said " i woudnt think so, but for good measure remove each spark plug and spray some WD40 down each piston before u try it".

my question is the same to you guys, is that too much risk for the reward? an if so what other options do i have?

of course that also included changing all the fluids before i attempted it

thanks luke

 

Well, I'd use a light motor oil, but that's a very good idea, which I have used successfully. Kinda smoky when you start the engine, but worth it. I would also pull the distributor and charge the oil system with newly-changed oil.

 

I am assuming you have already put the motor into another (or fixed the original) car? I would replace the water pump, thermostat and flush the radiator if you have not already... If the motor sat with water in it for 8 years, odds are something will break loose and clog something else. You can get a reusable coolant filter too.

 

yah i have a 69 mach 1 and if everything goes as planed im going to drop the cleveland in it. I had planned on changing the oil and flushing the radiator, thermastat. you did bring up the water pump which i had not thought of.

as far as the cylinder walls getting scratched should i have any concerns there??

 

I put some marvel mystery oil in my cylinders and hand cranked it every day for a few days before starting mine. It had been sitting for 18 years. It blew smoke for a while at first startup, but cleaned up nice after that. A few oil changes later and the oil even came out pretty clean. If it will turn by hand it will probably be ok. IMHO

 

i think you shoul be more concerned with the cooling system then anything else.