What can I expect from non running 440 for a period of time?

[CudamanTom]

Hey guys,

I have a 440 in my cuda that has not run in two years.
It's been in my shop the whole time and not exposed to rain/water.
Besides foul gas in the carbs, what other things should I be aware of?
And what would you recommend doing prior to first starting it?
It ran great before I sat the engine in place. Time has flown way too fast and all of a sudden, it's been two years.
Thank you,

Tom

[brads70]

just prime it again, change the oil and giver! maybe squirt a bit of oil down each cylinder and turn it over by hand as you prime it?

[HP_Cuda]

yank her (oil change), crank her (dump floats, give her a squirt) and don't stay around to thank her! (burnout)

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I would be weary of the brakes maybe acting funny for a bit.  Like a front disc locking up on you the first time you applied the pedal, but after that, it will loosen up.

[CudamanTom]

Thanks a bunch guys.
I figured it wasn't too much but wanted to get your opinions.

Thanks again.

[Chryco Psycho]

My Chall has now sat for over 2 years without being started , we just turned the key & fired it back up .

[tommyg29]

A related question.... if you know the car is going to be sitting a few months, is it ok to shut off the fuel pump (I have a cutoff) and let it idle and run dry til it quits? Thinking it might be best to leave as little fuel in the carb as possible to prevent gumming up.
Also a good fuel stabilizer should be in order since gas doesnt stay fresh more than a few months from what I have read.

[Chryco Psycho]

That will work to a point , I have a six pack on the car right now , it will only drain down the center carb , carbs with 4 corner idle should drain the rear bowl , the 2 idle screws carbs won't though , if you have Holley type carbs you can loosen 1 lower screw on the bowl & drain them that way .

['Cuda Hunter]

Ok, so if you have the fuel pedal pressed and running when you turn the pump off, would it then drain the carburetor completely?  Running it at high idle.

I too will usually just try to start a car up if it's only been a couple years.
Started my 64 lincoln up the other day and it had been one year since starting.  She works fine.

[Jesus H Chrysler]

I've pulled cars out of the weeds that have been sitting for years.  I gas them up and they usually fire and are fine.  Then I had one I tore down later and found evidence of rusty and scored cylinders, broken piston rings etc.  Now I take the extra step of getting a bore scope and peeking inside the spark plug hole for any significant rust on the cylinder walls.  At the minimum spray some oil, PB blaster, mystery oil or something in the spark plug holes and crank it by hand a bit to lube it up prior to firing it up.

[CudamanTom]

My Chall has now sat for over 2 years without being started , we just turned the key & fired it back up .

Chryc, Did you drain the carbs at any time prior to sitting or starting or did you leave the old gas in the carbs and just crank it?
I haven't got to the starting mode just yet but hope to pretty soon.

And all other posters, I appreciate your inputs. Sometimes little things can be a big headache and so your experience will help keep small things to a minimum.

Thank you all.

[HP_Cuda]

If you try this path, you will quickly find out if your floats are stuck.

[Chryco Psycho]

not by plan but I had no time to prep the Chall for storage so nothing got drained or prepped , as usual I never figured the car would sit this long but that has been the story for 33 years since I bought it . it just never gets driven , even less chance now as I live 4500 miles awy or something like that