1.7 Rebuild First Start Up Advice, 1.7 Start Up on stand Options

[Robroe]

Have 73 1.7 bought in pieces. Engine has been rebuilt and ‘souped up’ however I don’t know what internals were installed. New crank, cam, pistons, rods and heads. but I don’t know which ones. Weber 44 idf carbs. Never had oil in it and been stored unstarted for 10 yrs in climate control. I’ve added oil by slow dripping 2 quarts through the oil pressure sensor hole. Oil dripped out of the rockers so I’m pretty sure it got some oil as pre lube. It’s on a home built test stand with the transmission mounted with the starter.

I’m trying to turn the engine over by hand with the plugs out. Have squirted oil in each plug hole. I’m able to turn the engine by hand about 45 degrees and it gets harder to spin so can’t go any further. Would it be a good idea to pull the rocker arms to see if the builder installed some wild cam without checking valve/piston clearance? It doesn’t feel like internals are hitting each other but who knows? Would hate to pull the heads if I don’t have to. Any thoughts before I break something?

Rob Roe
Newbie

[Jack Standz]

I guess I’ll wear the old fuddy duddie title with honor. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Did the cam get a single thrust bearing or was it done Raby style with a double thrust bearing? For that matter what cam is in there?

Yes. Forgot about the double cam thrust bearing (actually just an extra thrust bearing taken from another regular cam bearing set). When we mocked up the motor, we had some binding with a double thrust bearing set from the type 4 store. Required some clearancing. Pretty sure the RAT motor kits had them. Would want to check that before start-up.

As you wish, we can grant you the title of "Old Fuddy Duddy".

RAT/HAM heads welded around the spark plug holes to relocate them to the more favorable 2 liter position.