old detroit resurrection

[tjmac77]

Hey guys-

I picked up a 4 53t last week and could use a few pointers. The engine is still mounted in a chevy truck frame and has been sitting for a few years. I was told by the guy I got it from that it was running decent when parked. I am planning on just running a rubber line to a 5 gallon can of diesel and giving it a whirl. Short of doing the obvious oil change is there anything else that could help thwart any damage or help it start easier? Can you use ether in those old detroits? Any advice from an old DD man would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!:o

[joe bleaux]

Do not use ether (starting fluid) Make sure that you have hot battery/ies and fuel out of the last filter, bleed the air, if necessary and spin it over. You will love this engine.

Joe


Hey guys-

I picked up a 4 53t last week and could use a few pointers. The engine is still mounted in a chevy truck frame and has been sitting for a few years. I was told by the guy I got it from that it was running decent when parked. I am planning on just running a rubber line to a 5 gallon can of diesel and giving it a whirl. Short of doing the obvious oil change is there anything else that could help thwart any damage or help it start easier? Can you use ether in those old detroits? Any advice from an old DD man would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!:o

[tjmac77]

thanks a bunch for your reply... did any GMC trucks come with a 24v starter?

[Yukon6.2]

Hi
You should be safe using starting fluid on this engine,no glow plugs.I have a 671 in a fuel truck,it gets a shot of starting fluid every cold start,it has a factory injection system that you replace a bottle the size of a propane bottle,go thru about one bottle a year.Used to have a 453 on a water pump which also got starting fluid in thr mornings.
Have fun
Thomas

[joe bleaux]

Usually, starting fluid is used in an emergency situation such as being stranded with low batteries or some other abnormal situation.

These engines don't need it IF EVERYTHING is in good order. Starting fluid is sometimes used on worn engines with low compression to boost the compression while lighting it off.

Everytime you use starting fluid, you take a chance. Might get by with it for a long time then, again................


Joe


Hi
You should be safe using starting fluid on this engine,no glow plugs.I have a 671 in a fuel truck,it gets a shot of starting fluid every cold start,it has a factory injection system that you replace a bottle the size of a propane bottle,go thru about one bottle a year.Used to have a 453 on a water pump which also got starting fluid in thr mornings.
Have fun
Thomas

[gophergunner]

i know my dad uses starting fluid on his 6-71. but he always warns me its not a good idea to spray it, then crank it. you should start cranking the engine and then spray as you crank it to avoid all the fluid getting sucked into one cylinder. but he's been starting that truck for years with starting fluid and it hasn't had a problem yet.

[DeezilDoc]

If your going to run it out of a 5 gallon bucket hook up 2 lines, suction and a return, prime the system thru the secondary filter (should be plugs in the filter head) hooking up the primer pump in this way will prime the system and purge any air thru the return.If the compression is OK and the engine spins over it should start,if not it can only be no fuel or air flow. these engines circulate a lot of fuel so a return line to the 5 gal bucket is necessary, make sure U hook the return downstream from the restricted fitting. should be an R-70 but could have an R-80. After the engine is running remove the primer pump and put in a guage,fuel pressure should be anywhere from 10 to 25 lbs @ idle and 60 to 70 @ higher RPM's

[steponmebbbboom]

gopher nailed it.

in any engine, ether is ONLY to be used on an engine while cranking. NEVER spray ether into the induction system when the engine is stopped.