TR4/4A Another milestone: first engine start

I started the engine yesterday and ran it as recommended for helping the new rings to bed in properly. The test was a success--no oil leaks (except from the dipstick hole, when I forgot to insert the dipstick--I'm still cleaning up the mess), and the only coolant leak was from the radiator, which I plan to replace anyway. Oil pressure was just a hair under 60 PSI and there was no smoke from the exhaust. I consider it a success.



I'm especially proud of my temporary, super-high-tech, gravity-feed fuel system.



Not a whole lot left to do on the chassis. Back to stripping undercoat and paint from the body!

Steve - that is great news! Congrats - probably sounded like music to your ears.

(I had to chuckle about the dipstick accident. I'm sure no one here has ever done that ...)

Tom M.

Nice! Congrats.

Always good to hear them start up after a long rest. How long has it been since it last ran?

Like the tire covers.

David

Yes, I feel pretty good about it. One run does not rule out everything, of course, but at least the basics seem OK.

I got the car two years ago this month. It was in more-or less (more like less) drivable condition; at least, I could drive it into the driveway from the van that delivered it. A day later, the clutch slave failed and leaked out all the fluid, so I never tried to drive it after that--seemed pointless to try to fix it. When I got the engine apart, it was clear that it needed a full rebuild--broken piston rings, cylinder ovality of 4 mils, lots of cooling-system rust, and so on.

I have done only a couple of engines, so I was very concerned about getting it right. I checked and rechecked everything, then worried to the point of sleeplessness that I missed something. But now it seems to work, so maybe a little anal-retentiveness pays off.

Oh, yeah, the wheel covers are there to protect my new VTO wheels.

Sarastro said:

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Oh, yeah, the wheel covers are there to protect my new VTO wheels.

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And here I thought they were tire warmers! :highly_amused:

Congrats on getting it going.

cool

Sarastro said:

I have done only a couple of engines, so I was very concerned about getting it right. I checked and rechecked everything, then worried to the point of sleeplessness that I missed something. But now it seems to work, so maybe a little anal-retentiveness pays off.

Click to expand...

Nothing like that first start and everything works, wonderful feeling of relief and euphoria.

Sounds like me, I haven't done a lot of motors either, so I take it slow, a little work, then read the manual again and visualize the next steps, and go over the prior work in my head. So far I have been lucky and everything has worked out.

Looks like it is coming along great, my TR250 did the same thing, drove it off the trailer and clutch hydraulics gave up the ghost after the first trip up the driveway.

Kind of like the puppy that has found a good home and won't leave. Makes it up the driveway and that is it.

David