On the very first try!

My good friend and neighbor Gord has been offering to help me fire up the 1910 Overland hotrod for some time. I’ve been putting him off as there was still so much to do to get ready… but today at last it was time. We were a little fearful as the engine has only been running two times in the last 32 years, the last time about fifteen years ago. Gord brought over a battery and a few supplies. We jury rigged a gas supply and the bare minimum of wiring. I did the connections while Gord checked things over. We cranked the engine once without spark to make sure it wasn’t seized and it turned easily That was a good sign. Then we powered up the electric fuel pump and hooked up the electrical supply. It was my plan to set up a camera to record the first firing but we decided to give it one try first. We figured we would have to prime the carb manually and possibly much more. To our amazement the engine fired up instantly and didn’t stall. It was a little rough and we suspect a faulty spark plug or wire but it runs extremely well considering how long it had been quiet. The headers need some gaskets to stop a leak at the manifold. That will quiet things down a little as far as exhaust noise but it wasn’t nearly as loud as I thought it would be with the straight pipes off the headers. The lower radiator hose was leaking badly and the transmission cooler still needs to be hooked up along with a bunch of other small details throughout. But at least we know the engine is good. Now, it’s on to the details. Tomorrow we’ll bleed the brakes and then perhaps take it for a quick spin down the long driveway. Stay tuned…