Sanity Testing

Here's a few pics of the old starter. We decided to replace it since it appeared to be seized.

We ended up having to have one transferred to our local store from the warehouse. Once we got the new starter in hand, we did a bit of sanity testing using the bench vise to make sure it worked. Using the jumper battery, it did not. I had to use my car battery to "jump start" the starter. Once this was proven out, we went and got a new battery for the car. I wanted to avoid this so we would have a fresh battery when we get the car road worthy, but we got to get it started first. We didn't install the battery, so we could use jumper cables to "kill it" if the engine malfunctioned.

Just getting started

We attempted to start the engine for the first time today. We were able to coordinate to have our friend Steve visit and give us a hand, as well as having Grampy with us for the first start.

We started the day by doing the last minute fill-ups.

• Pre-fill oil filter
• Fill Oil
• Fill Gas
• Check Oil

We removed the ignition coil plug so that we could see how the starter would work, and how the engine would crank. When we tried to start, we got only relay chatter like we had a low battery. Since we knew this was not the case, we bypassed the relay and put it on our list of parts to replace.

The second attempt to start bypassing the relay we got just hum out of the starter. It was seized. We removed it, and clamped it to the workbench to do some tests. We still got nothing but hum out of it. Banged it with a hammer a few times to free it up, but that did not fix it. So, we need to replace the starter. We tried to get one from one of the local parts stores, but they gave us the wrong one. The video includes a short segment where we bench tested the starter before trying to put it in. We had to wait until they could the right one shipped out from the warehouse. The issue was manual vs. automatic transmission use a different starter motor configuration.

In the mean time, we did some work on the gas line, and siphoned some fuel up to the carburetor.

Take a seat.

In preparing to start the car up for the first time, we needed somewhere to sit. We put the original drivers seat back in, and placed some wood over the floor boards where it had rusted through. It's not perfect, but it will work for now.

We filled the radiator with 1 gallon of anti-freeze, and then managed to get about 1qt. of water in before the system was completely full. This is a 9 1/2 qt. system, so we'll need to top it off with water once we get the coolant to pump through the engine.

Lights!!!!

We did the electrical system checks tonight. Here we are with the front lights on! We used a small "jumper battery" to test out the system.

• Interior Lights -OK
• Dash Lights - OK
• Parking Lights - OK
• Headlights - OK
• Highbeam Floor Switch - Needs work/replace
• Tail Lights - Left Side out
• Brake Lights - Left Side out
• Fans Work
• Radio Works!
• Ignition to on position (click heard, probably ready to start)

We wired up the alternator. We put this off when we did the alternator install. We had been more concerned with the belts, and the electrical hook-up was unclear.

• White - Field
• Black/Yellow - Batt
• Black/Red - Ground (Seriously?!! Ground a RED wire!)

 Thankfully we have the shop manual, and it lists the wiring colors.