215 ford 6 cylinder for 601.

[JonasSmith]

I recently picked up this 215 to replace the 223 in my 601. Zero hour rebuild, but it was rebuilt 20 years ago and sat in the back of a shop in Tacoma, WA. I’ve put marvel mystery in the cylinders, my question is, is there a way to pressureize the oil system before starting it up to make sure everything’s lubed before firing? I’d hate to crank it on dry bearings.

 

[J5 Bombardier]

Easiest way without having to pull the distributor and do the drill on the oil pump trick would be to rig up a pressure bottle and put the line on where the oil sending unit is.
Personally after 20 years I would drop the pan and have a peak. Rule #1 of engine rebuilds trust no one , and that includes your mother . LOL Keep the pics coming.
J5 Bombardier

 

[JonasSmith]

Easiest way without having to pull the distributor and do the drill on the oil pump trick would be to rig up a pressure bottle and put the line on where the oil sending unit is.
Personally after 20 years I would drop the pan and have a peak. Rule #1 of engine rebuilds trust no one , and that includes your mother . LOL Keep the pics coming.
J5 Bombardier

Yea, I hear you on that. I’m thinking I might pull the head and check it all out. Waste a head gasket but worth it for piece of mind. I put a scope in the cylinders and it looks like it’s never been ran.

 

[redsqwrl]

I would pump oil through the gauge like j5 mentioned, ( brilliant btw) roll it over a few times and fire it up. I am a risk taker. and typically not scared of failure.

There is no better way to find the nut, washer, mouse turd ect..... some knucklehead dropped down the carb 14 years ago.

 

[DAVENET]

You could even find a 10mm socket . . .

 

[Cidertom]

my 2 pennies.
if it has oil from way back change it. It may well be milky from sitting and sucking moisture.
remove the spark plugs. teaspoon of marvel in each cylinder (you did that) leave plugs out Turn it over by hand a few (at least 10) revolutions to feel if anything is binding. Then spin it using starter to build up oil pressure. check compression in each cylinder.

without compression, the bearings will be, for the most part, unloaded and will suffer very little running dry for a couple of moments.

if you really want the oil first the above suggestion about pressurizing via the oil pressure port is good.

expect the water pump to leak. really old seals that have been sitting get stiff and I think water pumps are the worst for it.

 

[Yancey]

You could even find a 10mm socket . . .

This engine uses imperial, that would be a 7/16 or a 1/2, I am always missing them.