Priming a 318

[niceolddart]

I have an 86 D-250 that's been sitting in a warehouse for over 24 years. Before I attempt to crank it over, I would like to prime the engine first. I'm guessing it's the same as priming a big block but want to be sure. I haven't done any of this stuff in a few years & would like some guidance doing it. I have already drained the old oil & installed fresh oil and a new filter.
What I'm not sure of is, does the oil pump drive shaft turn CW or CCW when I prime it? I just want to prime the engine for now. I have a lot of wiring to do before I fire it. I also have a Mopar priming shaft that I primed a 440 with years ago, will that work on the 318? TIA

 

[Ottmundr]

Firstly.
Can you turn it over by hand?
Secondly, which should probably be firstly.
What does/did the oil and water/antifreeze look like?
Thirdly.
Do you think its worth the time to pull it apart to check the rings, and seals which may be all dried out and crunchy? Rear main, carb, fuel pump...

Or just roll the dice and run it.

 

[TF360]

You will need the Priming Tool, and Clockwise. That's a long time. I recently primed my 360. I sprayed fogging oil in the cylinders, and took the valve covers off and poured oil down each pushrod to the lifters. then I primed it and got oil pressure before starting.

 

[Cranky]

I have an 86 D-250 that's been sitting in a warehouse for over 24 years. Before I attempt to crank it over, I would like to prime the engine first. I'm guessing it's the same as priming a big block but want to be sure. I haven't done any of this stuff in a few years & would like some guidance doing it. I have already drained the old oil & installed fresh oil and a new filter.
What I'm not sure of is, does the oil pump drive shaft turn CW or CCW when I prime it? I just want to prime the engine for now. I have a lot of wiring to do before I fire it. I also have a Mopar priming shaft that I primed a 440 with years ago, will that work on the 318? TIA

All of the old engines I've cranked over got a good shot of oil down the carb and into the plug holes and then barred over by hand turned over good....and. IF and I mean IF, it turned over.....try to start it.

 

[niceolddart]

Firstly.
Can you turn it over by hand?
Secondly, which should probably be firstly.
What does/did the oil and water/antifreeze look like?
Thirdly.
Do you think its worth the time to pull it apart to check the rings, and seals which may be all dried out and crunchy? Rear main, carb, fuel pump...

Or just roll the dice and run it.

View attachment 1716425633

I'm just going to roll the dice & see if it runs for now. It does turn over. The oil was black but it wasn't full of crud. Wasn't full of metal shavings and as far as the cooling system goes, there is no cooling system on it. There was no radiator, the hoses were cut. There was no front end on the truck at all. The truck is super clean that's why if I have to, I will put a motor in it cuz it's nice & in really good shape.

 

[niceolddart]

This is the truck I got before I power washed it. The cab overall is in awesome shape, NO ROT anywhere! I pulled the seat & the rubber mat & found only surface rust on the driver's side & the passenger side is like new, door bottoms are perfect & doors close nice. I checked all underneath, front to back, it's in beautiful shape. It's hard to believe how nice it is since I live in the rust belt. Sitting in a dry warehouse all those years definitely helped. I have all the sheet metal to put it back together but, as you can see, the bulkhead wiring has been cut, why I have no idea. I will do away with the factory spark control computer & make it a regular Chrysler Electronic Ignition. For the price I got it for, it's worth fixing.
I'll be selling the Reading utility body on the back too.

 

[413]

Yes just Like the BB priming, same priming tool but it turns clockwise on a SB. CCW on a BB.

 

[Dartswinger70]

disable the ignition and crank it over a couple of times let the oil pump prime it...if something inside the engine is going to break it will do it with or without a priming tool. worse I can think of is excessive rust in one of the bores where the intake valve was open and it ganks the rings...once running do an oil system flush (quart of kerosene) then change the oil etc.years ago wed find cars in fields and if they ran when parked theyd usually start again and those cars were excessively sludged up with carb egines etc.

 

[Oldmanmopar]

Install a good battery , take the spark plugs out and put a little diesel in the cylinders. Crank it with the starter until the oil pressure comes up. After that she'll be ready for a first 1/4 mile pass.

 

[niceolddart]

Thanks all. I got all the info I needed.