Should I try to start it

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Black Cuda

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Well I am about to start a restoration project. I got a 65 Barracuda that has been in a barn for about 20years. My question is do I try to turn it over or even do a little carb work and see if it will fire. But I dont know anything about it and I am going to tear it down and rebuilt it anyway and I dont want to hurt anything inside. Mainly score the cylinder walls or something. It is a 340 with a Holley DP, I think someone was drag racing this car so I dont know how built the motor is. I pulled one valve covers off and it looks really clean under those. I dont know if I should just pull the motor and tranny or get some oil flowing through the motor and try to start it. What would I gain by doing it?

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If you pre-determined you are going to tear it down and rebuild, then there is nothing to gain other than "just to do it" to see if it will. Just my opinion.
 
Black Cuda said:
Well I am about to start a restoration project. I got a 65 Barracuda that has been in a barn for about 20years. My question is do I try to turn it over or even do a little carb work and see if it will fire. But I dont know anything about it and I am going to tear it down and rebuilt it anyway and I dont want to hurt anything inside. Mainly score the cylinder walls or something. It is a 340 with a Holley DP, I think someone was drag racing this car so I dont know how built the motor is. I pulled one valve covers off and it looks really clean under those. I dont know if I should just pull the motor and tranny or get some oil flowing through the motor and try to start it. What would I gain by doing it?

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I would take the plugs out squirt marvel mystery oil in each cylinder, a fair amount. Let it sit for a few days resqirt it and see if you can turn it by hand.Check or change the oil in the motor probably change it since it's old,clean the plugs , Pour some oil over the rockers and lifters and start it. What have you got to loose?
 
Agree with the above (318WR), but I don't know if I personally would be able to resist trying to fire it...
Clean it up. If the engine is loose, squirt a little oil in the cylinders and spin it over by hand. Pop some fresh plugs in there. If a points dist., clean the points and reset the gap. Fresh oil (just use cheap stuff if you're tearing it down anyways) and prime the system. Make sure coolant is good... Run a fuel line from a can so it gets fresh gas. Static time the dist. and fire that puppy up.
 
And not trying to be a Debbie Downer here, but have a fire extinguisher close at hand...
Don't ask why I say that. :rolleyes:
 
I also agree with philip's66 and Professor Fate. I bought a 70 Barracuda years ago that sat forever, soaked the engine with the MM oil, new plugs cap and rotor, checked all fluids, primed the carb and it fired right up and didn't leak anything! All the best! :thumbsup:
 
I gave the right advice in post 2, but I probably wouldn't follow my own advice and I'd be out there cranking on it... LOL :D
 
Thanks, With nothing to gain and never thought much on burning the car and my shop down trying to start it I thinking I will probably just pull it out and open it up and see what I have and not risk hurting something. But it is tough not start cranking on it.
 
I was going to follow all the advice above too, but when I got my dad's dart home after it sitting for 4 years I couldn't resist so I replaced the battery, shot some starter fluid in the carb, and cranked it over. To my surprise it fired right up. I expected it to die, (figured old gas, clogged filters and lines, and dried out carb gaskets) but to my surprise, it just kept running, good oil pressure, no smoke.

I say minimal prep, and crank that bad boy over.
 
When turning it over by hand, I'd also watch the valves to make sure none of them are stuck before trying to fire it.
 
I would bar it over by hand to make sure it isn't seized. Then unplug the coil and crank the engine for 30-45 seconds to get oil through it. Then hook the coil back up, dump some fuel into the carb and try to fire it.

Changing the plugs, lubing the cylinders, checking valves, compression test, etc are all a good idea. But in my past experiences, it wasn't ever necessary. And I've fired up many engines that have sat for decades.
 
I’d just pull it, your going to anyway. Why risk spinnig a bearing. I have done that and just wished I had pulled it out.
 
See if it is free. Change the oil. Squirt some mystery oil in the cylinders. Bump it a few times & squirt again. Pull the coil wire. Crank it to get some oil flowing. Reconnect & try to fire!!! Ditto on the fire extinguisher..........(from experience)! LOL
 
I pull the plugs while cranking it so there is little stress on the bearings (no compression to fight).
 
Not a mopar. My dad bought a 1970 lincoln with a 460 engine. Car sat for 20+ years under a carport. So my dad a mechanic took some essentials to get the car started. She fired right up! Ran like they had just drove it the day before. Other some smoke @ 1st it did great.
 
DentalDart,
I meant no disrespect about your age, if that is how it was received, disregard that. To decide to become a dentist is something important and to be respected, I’m just a working man who knows how to use tools and equipment to make a comfortable life and enjoy a couple of hobbies, what you are doing will help the individual directly and that’s important. Cars are a fun type of therapy for me. I hope you’re having fun.
 
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