Yes, get all of the old gas out of the tank, carb and fuel line. I would wire brush the plugs and gap them.
Put some oil in plug holes and let it sit overnight. If you've marked the plug wires (#1 is at the radiator) leave the plugs out. Maybe look at the oil; change it out plus filter if there is any chance 16 years of water condensation is in the oil. It'll be easiest to turn over with the plus out. An assistant can tell you if the wires are sparking which means you won't have to clean off the wires and pints. Bill in Corvallis, Oregon _____ From: old-chevy-truck@yahoogroups.com [mailto:old-chevy-truck@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of c50tr...@yahoo.com Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2013 2:25 PM To: old-chevy-truck@yahoogroups.com Subject: [old-chevy-truck] How to start a 216 that has been resting sixteen years Hello; I did try to search the group, because I suspected this question had been answered before. I was not successful in finding an answer. So I apologize for the possible rerun. I do wish too determine if my 50 Chevy with a 216 will start. I remember the radiator top leaked, and it would run hot if ran to long when I parked it the fall of 97. I can't remember if I ever ran it hotter than I should have, but something caused me to stop driving it. I have done nothing with it since it was parked, except put air in the tires, spray the wasp nests, and move it out of the field last week. This week, I wish to find if the engine can still fire. Seems I remember I should pour small amounts of oil through the spark plug openings and let it soak before trying to fire the engine, true? Stale fuel? That's a problem. Anything else I've overlooked? Full disclosure; I'm on the fence. Not sure yet if my goal is to restore the 5 window, or sell. But either way I'd like to at least know if it would start again, and how to determine that without causing possible damage to an engine. Thanks for any help. Rod LaFrance Greenacres, WA.
