340 4 barrel hasn't ran in 15 years need help.

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69' 340dart

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I got a 1969 dart 340 4 barrel that hasn't been started since 1995. Just wondering the best way to start it without breaking something . Need all the help I can get
 
squirt some oil in the spark plug holes and pre-lube the pump with a hex rod and a drill, turn the crank with a wrench,. If everything moves, gas the float bowl, check the oil and fire it up! 15 years aint that bad if its still has a hood on it.
 
Yep what pishta said but if you can get a hand or stretch yourself to do it try and turn the crank over while you are spinning the oil pump with a drill, but not a show stopper if you can't. Also don't pour oil in the holes just a small squirt so you don't hydraulic the motor, Let us know how it goes
 
1995....you mean 20 years....good luck, I'm sure it will run no problem :glasses7:
 
I would consider a carb kit on the carb, & draining the fuel tank. Add new fuel, check the rubber lines,& possibly replace the fuel pump, if mechanical. The newer fuels, could eat old rubber fuel system components up.
 
Make sure theres no water in the oilpan, and that there is water in the cooling system.
Like said turn the engine over by hand,while the pugs are out and after the oil was squirted in. Several times. If it has a sticky spot,STOP.Find out why. It may be stuck valve(s). Do this before spending time on much else.
Change the oil as soon as the beast is proven to have survived its hibernation .
 
The any fuel left in the tank is guaranteed to be absolute crap, and it can badly mess up the valves and maybe a piston by making them stick. Don't even think of using any of it, not even of the idea that you can water it down with fresh fuel. Drop the tank and get it all out, and clean out the tank of any trash or old fuel residue. Blow out the lines and clean out the carb.

Oiling the cylinders is good; I start with WD40 or Kroil and then rotate the engine some, and then add a bit of light motor oil.
 
May be a little 'over cautious' but I put a fresh oil filter on before firing one up that's been sitting a long time. I worry about the condition of filter media and whether it will disintegrate when it gets pressure for the first time in years.. Probably pointless, but it's cheap peace of mind..
 
Thing is... most 340s are rode hard and put up wet.

Even if you're very cautious not to break anything it may've been already, but good tips so far. Definitely make sure there's no water in oil and vice versa. If it's sat so long with a blown gasket it's not liable to turn over easy.
 
Well the good thing about this car is when o was put away my dad drained the tank changed the oil and coolant. So it's been sitting with no gas or very little in the fuel system. And new oil in the pan. The car only has 33000 and change on it.
 
Sounds like a GREAT car.....how about some pics?????????
 
69' 340dart said:
Well the good thing about this car is when o was put away my dad drained the tank changed the oil and coolant. So it's been sitting with no gas or very little in the fuel system. And new oil in the pan. The car only has 33000 and change on it.
Click to expand...
That's always good, that's what I like about cheap old trucks. No matter how bad it ran, it almost always ran good enough for them to run it out of gas- so you can just add to the tank and fire it up without much problem unlike cars that usually sit with gas and have the tank and lines go South through the years.

Wow, that's a cool turn to the thread. I'dve figured a dogged-tired old motor in a car that was beat through its prime but about everyone with a pulse around it. That's really neat.
 
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