Ideas on unknown engine startup

[pa0101]

For this '66 289 Coupe, we have a newly-acquired mid-70's 302 with an unknown history. Turns over OK with a wrench but otherwise unstarted. Currently mated to a C4 but to be remated to the original 66 manual tranny currently on the floor. Wondering your ideas on a couple of things if we just want to start the engine up now before we rebuild the clutch/etc. and mount the tranny. Trying to save a little wasted effort if we really ought to rebuild the engine first!

1. Can we run the engine with the torque converter/tranny empty of fluid? Just to start the engine? Reason - no cooler lines connected/no yoke/driveshaft either. Since the tranny goes, no reason to take much care of it, but no reason to smoke it either. Will this work?

2. How about exhaust? We don't have the full exhaust system for this guy, just the "H" pipes. To start/run the engine for a few minutes how much of the exhaust system needs to be intact? Are the "H" pipes enough? What are pros/cons of running it with no pipes, just the stock manifolds?

Thanks!

 

[D.Hearne]

You really need SOME oil in the torque converter to start it, not a good idea to run it dry.Why toast an otherwise good transmission core? It may be useless to you, but someone may want to pay you something for it, unless it's a complete pile of junk, then it's still worth the going price for aluminum scrap. As for the exhaust, just the H pipe is fine, if your neighbors can stand the noise.

 

[D.Hearne]

You can also always unbolt the transmission case from the bellhousing, and just use the bell and flexplate to start the motor, without damaging the rest of the transmission.

 

[pa0101]

ok, do I need to loop the cooler lines in-to-out for this and put a yoke in at the rear of the tranny? or just be sure there's a little more fluid than none in the torque converter?

 

[D.Hearne]

Yea, loop the lines and pop a yoke in the back, in addition to oil in the converter.

 

[pa0101]

or, I could just drop the tranny now and run it "naked" so to speak?

 

[D.Hearne]

Yea, I ran a 5.0 in my Ranger with just a C-4 bell and the flexplate. Rev'd like a Kawasaki like that

 

[pa0101]

ok, we got the automatic tranny out just fine. The engine's sitting on the two motor mounts ... is it OK to run it like that? Once we mount the housing/starter it will hang a little lower to the rear ... should we put a stand under the rear or something, to keep the motor mounts from tearing out?

 

[D.Hearne]

ok, we got the automatic tranny out just fine. The engine's sitting on the two motor mounts ... is it OK to run it like that? Once we mount the housing/starter it will hang a little lower to the rear ... should we put a stand under the rear or something, to keep the motor mounts from tearing out?

Yea, that would be a good idea Wouldn't want you motor takin off like the one in that oil commercial