My 392 - IT LIVES

[Tom Mandera <tsm1@domain.elided>]

<VBG>

After disconnecting the exhaust, pulling the distributor and valve cover, 
finding TDC and setting static timing a dozen times or better.. lots of 
backfiring and spitting.. recharging the battery a time or two.. blah 
blah blah.

It's finally running.

I read the firing order off the intake and double checked my wires DOZENS 
of times.  I *swear* I looked at the '72 304 in my Scout II to get the 
proper direction of the wires.. two or three times.

Mom came out to ask if I'd watch my newborn niece while she and my sister 
went to the store.. "Almost, mom.. gotta hear it run.. WHAT is wrong.."

It was spinning easily, coughing now and then.. but still blowing flames 
out of the carb now and then.  Mom said, "Sure you have the wires on 
right" "YEAH, about FIFTY TIMES!" as I re-checked the wires *again*.. 
"Sure you have the right direction?"  "Well, yeah.. well, I'll check again.."

This time I grabbed my '72-79 Chiltons Truck book.. looked at the IH 
engine firing order.. yep, 1-8-blah blah.. OH #%@!  Run over to the 
Travelall and look.. yep, #8 was where #8 was supposed to be, and the 
wires were in order.. BUT THE WRONG DIRECTION.

Turn the wires around (after I worked so much to get the "#1" cap marking 
to be #1, it's now NOT #1.. I'm not yanking the dist out again!).  Oops, 
crossed two in the process.. OK, got that...

Climb inside, turn the key.. VRRROOOM it comes alive.  Raspy sounding 
since the exhaust is disconnected (need two donuts now..), but running.  
Give it some gas.. picks up and runs better.  TOO COOL.

Has a flat spot i found.. stalled it.

Looked under the hood again.. fuel or something everywhere.. oh yeah, the 
fuel pump is still attached to the one forward stock tank.. rigged a hose 
to a bucket.. fire it up again.. Yee-haw!

Oil pressure (mechanical aftermarket gauge) reads 25psi at idle.  Rev it 
some to 40psi.

Played for a few moments more.. shut 'er down. 

The stuff in the bucket almost resembles fuel.. ;)

Suggestions on getting it OUT of the tank?  I thought of just running the 
motor off the gas can for a while and pumping it out.. but I run the risk 
of garbage in the tank eating the pump up, right? (It sat for at least 5 
years w/o a gas cap on the forward tank)

Alternator and Ammeter work.. heavy charging! ;)

Now that it runs.. flush the gas tank, flush the cooling and attach, 
reconnect the exhaust.. and then see about changing the oil n' such (and 
make sure it'll move under it's own power..)

*THANKS* to everyone for their help.. had I just hooked the wires up in 
the right DIRECTION the first time, I bet it would've fired right off.. d'oh.

-Tom Mandera, Helena MT
http://www.tmcom.com/~tsm1/scout
'72 Travelall 1110 with a RUNNING V392!!!