My car has been sitting since last August. I've installed an MSD 6A and 2 MSd coils. It's a fresh rebuild streetport 4-port 13B built by Darryl at Rotary Dynamics. I spun it without ignition to see if I could build oil pressure, but saw nothing on the gauge, which as of last August was working fine. I was going to spray fogging oil into the engine but we got hit with that big first snowfall and I wasn't able to get it done in time.

My first question is how long should I be cranking the engine before I see oil pressure. Also should I do it with or without the spark plugs in? I have a feeling the engine may have gas in it since the carbs fuel bowls are empty so they have to come out and be cleaned up anyway. Also not seeing any tach reading, which probably means I screwed up somewhere in the MSD install and need to find that problem. Any other tips for firing this thing up safely would be appreciated.

 

Cranking with the plugs out, on an intial startup it might be a while before you see any oil pressure. The pump has to prime, etc. I'd think cranking for 10+ seconds might be necessary before you saw pressure.

Make sure the gauge is hooked up properly, too - everything is plumbed right, etc. And obviously, that the engine has oil in it.

 

Check on all of those. Thanks Dan.

 

It takes a good little while of cranking to build oil pressure on a fresh engine. I'd crank it with plugs out, fuel and ignition disconnected.

 

make sure there is some oil in the combustion chamber if its been sitting for awhile all that cranking with no oil in there would be bad as well

 

It has ran before Buggy, just not for a while. I poured some premix down the carb. Not sure if it was enough, but I'll check the plugs tomorrow and see if there's any on them. Thanks guys.

 

Yah, oil pressure will take a long time to build on the first attempt. If I remember with Zhe's and the RHD engine it took 3 cranks or so of 10+ seconds each time before the needle moved.

thewird

 

Ok good to hear. My main concern is overheating the starter, so I'll just have to give it a break in between cranks.

 

Ya just let it crank for a few seconds then wait for a few more seconds and crank again.