the previous owner said the only thing that was wrong with the truck was the exhaust manifolds leak.i need to go through the fuel system and brakes before i try cranking it.
Making any changes as you go?
My '75 Ranger had headers and glasspacks on it when I bought it. Picked up a cast iron 390 4 barrel intake from a buddy and dropped a 600 Holley on it. It would pull hard, made a great hunting truck down here in the gumbo mud.
well,i sprayed wd40 in the cylinders of the 360 and let it sit for a day or two,i put a power handle on the crank bolt,could not turn it.i took the valve covers off and rockers too,and i still could not move it.i pecked on all the valves with a rubber hammer and they felt good.my son said why dont you try the starter.so i thought i would tap it one time and see what it does.i turned the key for a split second and i saw the power handle move,so i tapped it a few more times and it rotated.what now? should i put plugs in it and try to get it started.the oil in the pan looks new,but under the valve covers it was a little sludgy.its still tight but its not stuck. ANY IDEAS
Run a hose out of a boat tank to the pump, spray some starting fluid in the carb and bust it loose.
It'll smoke for a while until the rings set back in (hopefully).
what is the absolute best thing to spray-put in the spark plug holes to loosen the assembly?
Not saying it is the absolute best, but we have always squirted tranny fluid in and let sit overnight. Then spin the engine by hand .and let sit some more. Maybe another squirt or two if it is still sticking.
Have had good luck doing it this way over the years.
i put atf in the cylinders and let it sit a day or two i could not get it to turn with my power handle on the crank bolt.i thought i would bump the starter 1 time and it moved a little.every time i bumped it it would move 1/4 inch or so.i finally put pressure on the power handle while bumping the starter at the solenoid with a screw driver,and it started moving an inch or two at a time.then all the sudden it turned a lot in one bump,so i took the wrench off the crank bolt and i reached in and turned the key and it started spinning fast and spitting trans fluid out the plug holes.ITS FREE.i think i will clean the rockers and valve covers and put them back on,tune it up and try to fire it up.
well,heres where im at with my truck engine-360.its spinning freely i lubed all the cylinders,cleaned the heads,took of the rocker shafts,pushrods, and drain tins cleaned them and put them back on.i pecked on the valves with a rubber-plastic hammer several times.its funny how the valves make a different tone when you hit them,depending on where the piston is on the cyl you are hitting.i took the carb off and cleaned and reassembled it.intake looks good under the carb.the only sign of moisture i saw was a little rust under the pass valve cover,very minimal.i need to buy plugs,valve cover gaskets,oil change and fresh gas.i have high hopes it will start and run.im expecting it to smoke,hopefully just for a few minutes!my wife is on me about buying parts for the comet,so far the truck has just been mostly labor.either way i will have to wait till payday to get everything.this was my papaws truck.i hope his spIrit is with me while i try to resurrect this engine.he was a Baptist preacher.by far the greatest man i ever knew.
Last edited by fryedaddy on Sun Jun 19, 2022 1:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
i put some new plugs in it today and i tried firing it up.engine spins but no spark at the plugs.its a stock 1973 360.any ideas why no spark at the plugs?
1966 caliente,428 4 speed,4.11 gears,nitrous,parachute
