First gen owners/knowledgeable sources GET IN

[willgv7]

My buddy just picked up a 67 bird with the 455 trans am engine in it. Originial motor was blown and replaced with the 455,...hardly stock, in need of some repairs. It has been sitting for ten years, so he has been letting it sit in wd40 for a week now. Crank turns, but we are yet to try and turn it over.

What all should we do to get it turning over? ANY advice is good thanks.

[PonchoKid]

Is it getting a spark?

[Tommy]

My buddy just picked up a 67 bird with the 455 trans am engine in it. Originial motor was blown and replaced with the 455,...hardly stock, in need of some repairs. It has been sitting for ten years, so he has been letting it sit in wd40 for a week now. Crank turns, but we are yet to try and turn it over.

What all should we do to get it turning over? ANY advice is good thanks.

Sounds like fun!

I'd establish a few things first...

Check the wiring and look for anything heavy gauge that's loose or damaged to be safe and fix it if needed.
Drain the oil and start fresh with the cheap stuff and a new filter
check the spark plug wires, remove the plugs and check them for even wear and no physical damage
Check the firing order of the wires
pull the cap and check the rotor.
Drain the coolant and start over with pure rain water or store bought reverse osmosis water(antifreeze comes later)
check the rubber fuel lines under the hood by pulling on them and squeezing them. If they are not flexible just take them off, take them to the store and get new lengths of it(replace)
check the gas in the tank, if it looks like molasses you need to pull the tank and clean it. This stuff will mess some lines and carb up.
prime the carburetor by manually filling the bowl with a bit of gas
Attach a battery and check the car out.
If nothing smokes then turn the key to on but not crank. test the lights and other stuff to see if it acts right
try to crank it

Have a timing light, engine stethoscope(wood dowel will work), flashlight and fire extinguisher ready. Do not start it without the fire extinguisher right there and ready
let me know if you need help... I might be able to make a visit :)

FYI, I own a 68 Firebird, and a swapped RX7 V8 car...

[aggiestang]

Sounds like fun!

I'd establish a few things first...

Check the wiring and look for anything heavy gauge that's loose or damaged to be safe and fix it if needed.
Drain the oil and start fresh with the cheap stuff and a new filter
check the spark plug wires, remove the plugs and check them for even wear and no physical damage
Check the firing order of the wires
pull the cap and check the rotor.
Drain the coolant and start over with pure rain water or store bought reverse osmosis water(antifreeze comes later)
check the rubber fuel lines under the hood by pulling on them and squeezing them. If they are not flexible just take them off, take them to the store and get new lengths of it(replace)
check the gas in the tank, if it looks like molasses you need to pull the tank and clean it. This stuff will mess some lines and carb up.
prime the carburetor by manually filling the bowl with a bit of gas
Attach a battery and check the car out.
If nothing smokes then turn the key to on but not crank. test the lights and other stuff to see if it acts right
try to crank it

Have a timing light, engine stethoscope(wood dowel will work), flashlight and fire extinguisher ready. Do not start it without the fire extinguisher right there and ready
let me know if you need help... I might be able to make a visit :)

FYI, I own a 68 Firebird, and a swapped RX7 V8 car...
DITTO...
Going through a similar thing with my '73 vette right now. The only difference is that we (my dad and I) just went ahead and pulled the gas tank and cleaned it all out just to be sure.

[LnL]

I had a 455 powered '67 for about a decade. I drove it daily for close to 2 years, and it was a solid 11-second street car. Your friend may want to prime the oil pump, but be aware that Pontiac oil pumps (and distributors) rotate COUNTERclockwise. If he just wants to get it on the road, then the WD40 should help, along with the priming. If he wants to go a little further, yank the intake manifold and valley cover to make sure there are no mouse nests built there (I've seen this happen, on a motor with the distributor hole left open). Might want to pull the oil pan as well.

There is an AWESOME group of local 1st gen Firebird owners here in Houston - H.A.L.F. (Houston Area Legendary Firebirds). If you have been to the Autorama, these guys KILL every year with about a dozen or more REALLY clean cars entered! Great group of guys, and they will all be willing to assist another first-gen get on the road. I know at least two of them have been checking this site, and should give you details on getting with them.

I've got probably THE best oil pan and valve cover gaskets for Pontiacs you'll find, and I don't think anyone else in Houston carries them. Shoot me an e-mail if you need more info.
Lee

(DynoTune@verizon.net)

[clark-jacob3039]

Alright, I'm the buddy with the problem... There is a correction. I have a 400 in it. Formula style. My dad left it for me, and the last time it was turned with a key was when I did it 10 years ago. My friend and I had a good night and went out and got her turn at the crank about a quarter turn. I haven't been able to turn it since. She's stuck again. The guy that was holding it for me took decent care of it for the first 5 years or so. He filled it with sea foam, and ran oil through it and all. When I got it, I immediately changed the oil pump and filter, and manually primed the distributor with a homemade device on the end of a drill (turning counter clockwise). since it has been stuck, I have taken out the plugs every time I try to turn it, I have filled the plug holes with tranny fluid, wd40 carb cleaner, etc. Just hoping something would loosen up.Yesterday I took off the rocker assembly and tapped a stuck valve. (I'm still learning terminology) The wiring right now is not my main focus. I'm just trying to make sure I don't have to rip apart the block. The motor is pretty much brand new, other than sitting for so long. And as my friend said, it's hardly stock at all. I was told to pour cocacola down the carb bowl because the acid would loosen anything up. And after that didn't work, I was told to do it again. I'm not sure if that's even smart to do. Any suggestions on this situation?? I just want it to turn over so I can start working on wiring and transmission.

[Way2FastC4]

It sounds like either your timing chain links have corroded or rusted together, or a bunch of your lifters are stuck, or the cam is stuck in its bearings, or all of the above and/or plenty more! Any engine that has been sitting that long really must be broken down and checked out. Someone is feeding you a huge load of BS if you are now thinking there is some magic remedy to free it up, so you can then simply fire it up and drive. Because even if you were to get it to break free, the scared surfaces of all the previously stuck parts will definitely (at best) cause it to wear out extremely fast (it will likely spin a bearing on your first trip, or worse, the timing chain will break and destroy your engine). It really isn't that big of a deal or huge expense to disassemble and freshen-up those older engines. You really need to check everything inside thoroughly, so you don't waste all your time & money by ruining it soon after. If you don't have those tools or skills to do it yourself, pull it out and take it to a machine shop. If you don't have the means to pull the engine yourself, you will simply have to pay someone to do it for you. The issue that is keeping it from turning-over will definitely be identified, as well as many other parts that are likely needing to be polished and replaced. If none of that sounds acceptable to you, buy a new crate motor and start enjoying your car sooner. (BTW: once your engine issues are behind you, you will find that all the parts inside automatic transmissions also stick after sitting for 10-yrs) Good luck!

[clark-jacob3039]

Thanks! I will begin this process soon.

[Tommy]

What Michael said!