It's great to watch a guy with working knowledge of internal combustion engines do a old start/cold start. I really like the fact that you never give up on these old girls, until they light up.its all just simple air fuel spark... in a timed sequence. Thanks for taking your time to share such great videos for us to watch!
Hey guys, the cars Johnathan gets are from a much simpler time before electronics and diagnostics, cars I learned some not all of it. These same diagnostics are the same for lawnmowers which I repair and these one step similar with coils that don't need points. That said some of the internal workings can a bear on older cars, such as timing chain vs timing belt, one internal the other external. But all of you right about the patience it takes to finesse something old and forgotten to running again. Consider this internal combustion engines #101 so pay attention.
Oh what a great thing to see! An old Chevy coming back to life. Those old Chevy motors were built bullet-proof. Same as GM's offshoot here in Australia (Holden). Find an old Holden 6 or 8 still with oil in the crankcase which hasn't seized... with plugs still working, carby intact and distributor rotor and spark leads still okay and that motor will start, given fuel. They were just so tough...built to withstand rotten conditions anywhere in the world. They were also easy to work on...no ECU to fry, no complicated pollution control lines...nothing but spark leads, carburettor, battery, radiator and motor. If you broke down on the road most of the time you could troubleshoot the problem yourself. It was either caused by no fuel, no spark or a combination of both. Nowadays I'd be frightened to take the plastic engine shield off! BTW...we have this aerosol spray stuff over here which is basically hydrocarbons and ether. You spray it down a carby and the engine will usually start first or second go. It has a great typically-Aussie name: "Start Ya Bastard!" (I kid you not!) You should investigate getting some. Great video and commentary. My hat's off to you, Jonathan!
I remember my Dad coming home with a brand new 68 Imp. 4 dr banana yellow, and Grand pa's ' 67 gold 4 door both cars bought new on the same day. Every sunday it was my job to wash em for my allowance of $2. thanks for the memories
hwydog905 hi! I like very much your comment. I'm 22 years old, and the last year, i bought a chevy impala '69, my first car. Those cars of those years were fantastic, simple and work fine! I would like very much, be in your situation, a wonderful epoch, wonderful cars, and wonderful country. Greetings!
Mid 60's Chevy 283's ALWAYS need lots of gas to cold start, even when they were new. That engine is rated at 185 horsepower, the four barrel version was 210 horse. I had a total of four 65/66 Chevys over the years, all of them 283's, including one that went 250,000 miles and never had the heads off. Hearing that turn over sure took me back to my youth.
Burt Nelson that's awesome im 17 and I'm wanting to save up and buy me an old car and restore it I'm preferably looking for an impala or a Nova ss maybe late 60s to early 80s models so far I've found rust bucket and people wanting $10,000 for it and it not run or drive
Gavin Sumpter I'm 14 and we just recently found a 74 nova (68-74 were my dream cars) for $600. No motor or transmission but I'm either getting a 283 or 350 and keep it original
Burt Nelson since this is a 63-67 283 that have powerpak heads standard they were rated at 195hp with 2bbl and the 4bbls were rated at 220hp. from 57-62 the 283s 4bbl had powerpak heads and were the 220hp rating, but the 2bbl 283s before 63 ran the standard heads and rated 185hp. That's were the 10hp jump came from. and the 63-67 283s also had the 4bbl cam standard in them weather 2bbl or 4bbl.
I really miss the older cars. I started my career as an automotive technician back in 1985. So we were still seeing a lot of 1970’s and few 1960’s cars life was so simple back then. I remember that carburetor on the belair mid section would always be loose and changing points every 2 degrees of dwell changes 1 degree of timing
My mom had a 1965 Mederia Maroon (w/black interior) Impala SS, it came with a 327 and a powerglide. She just LOVED that car. I couldn't tell you how many times I saw her out washing and waxing it. She even had a name for it (Ruby I think) Probably gone for good now, but I was nowhere near as enamored of it as I was the car we had before that, an Ermine White (with red interior) 1963 Impala SS, now THAT was a beautiful car right down to the engine turned aluminum trim on the rear of the car.
My parent's had one of these in the mid 70's (283). We drove it from Oregon to Missouri one summer. The AT was leaking pretty badly, but dad decided to go anyway, he brought along a few quarts of AT fluid. We put in the last quart of AT fluid at the Oregon /Idaho border late at night. Early the next morning (Sunday) the engine started to over-rev and the car rolled to a stop along the highway in "nowhere" Wyoming. The only fluid we had left in the car was 3 quarts of Quaker State SAE 30W motor oil. We added the 3 quarts of motor oil to the transmission. We figured the AT was probably badly damaged anyway, so what more damage could this do? It worked very well, we were able to continue on to where we could get real AT fluid and made it just fine to our destination.
Nice to see a Guy that treats these old cars with respect. Your starting procedure was spot on, as well. It would be a fun project to get 'er back on the road.
Mid 60's Chev's were real good cars, no disc brakes, but other than that, there were real good drivers. So easy to work on, and quite dependable. Very comfortable cars.Wish they made them like that again.
I had three 65's with 283's and a SS impala with a 327.Then a 235 in a 1960 with three on the tree.One 283 had blown rings,kept a jug of used oil in the trunk for when the oil light came on,then it's time for a refill.I enjoy your videos,thanks.
My aunt bought a 65 impala, brand new, 2 door fastback fully loaded, white with blue interior. I loved riding in that car. She passed away last year at 96. I used to talk to her about that car and how it is collectable now. She would say, I liked the car, but it wasn't a collectable when I traded it in! I'm not a fortune teller you know. Cracked me up. Great lady.
Well I guess fate has guided me to this channel. Funny thing is I have been tinkering around with my old Jeep Cherokee I had back in high school. About time I take her climbing up the Rockies again. She’s been sitting for some time, not for over a decade but still some time. I salute you from one Jon W. to another 👍
Good video man, I like this stuff although I probably don't even qualify as a shade tree mechanic. Some of the most fun I ever had was in a 68 2-door Caprice with 396 4bbl, all stock back in 79, cruisin and sometimes goosin it around the hilly gravel roads of the tri-state(MN WIS IA) area. We just called it "goin on tour" and often enough would run through a tank, maybe two, of gas. If money was tight that day 1/2 tank and longer stops would work. Never get away with all that nowadays, at least not without a much bigger price to pay for any problems. That old car helped make 79 one of the best years of my life, add friends and let the good times roll.
This brought me back to when my Dad bought my Uncles 66 Belair Wagon, in 68. It had a 283 ci, and it always ran great. It fit all 8 of us too. We went everywhere in that wagon. Many summer nights my parents would bring us to the drive in. My younger brother and I, wearing our pajamas would put our pillows and blankets way in the back. It was a great time. But one day, a drunk rammed into the Belair while my older sister was driving...she was fine, but the entire rear of the Chevy was bent downward. Dad was angry ! He said, "well that car is done" ! ...Of course, no one sued in those days. ( my parents were too nice) I loved that car. Oh well.
i started a 1978 Bronco 351M that had sat a lil over 20 years. i had prolly dumped 4-5 oz total of gas down each side of the carb over many tries and got not even a hit, the accel pump was stuck too. my dad is old school, and said aww hell 4 oz on each side u aint even giver a drank yet after settin 20 years and i took his next advice. then i dumped another 6-8oz of gas down each side at one time, held choke open and throttle wide open and that bastard started right up.
I have a 1964 bel-air chevy 4 door,283 v8 engine which still runs like a kitten,the car has been well look aftered when my dad was alive,it has had a fair few repairs with the tyres and brakes and transmission,engine had been out of vehicle to replace Welsh plugs and water pump,etc,in the past. And has had a re-coat of paint on bodywork...Very much still original,never going to part with it,,,,stayed with the family generations for all it's lifetime.
It makes me sad that the old girl will be a parts car. Seems like she still has some life in her. Oh well. Still better than the crusher. GL & HH my friend, Brian
Jeff Scott True, but this was too complete and straight to be a donor. I'd have found a more suitable donor vehicle. I just have a soft spot for 4 door cars.
got a '64 Ford (Mercury) Meteor with a 352 Big Block only has approx 66,500 miles on her same as this Chev.....single master cylinder, single brake line, (non power) brakes, direct crankcase vent to the atmosphere, no PVC system, this one at least has power steering and an alternator, mine still runs generator/voltage regulator and non power steering, love seeing old cars brought back to life, mine still runs like a dream.....what I might have done where he didn't.....is disconnect fuel line into fuel pump, drain such then have added little container with hose to fuel pump inlet....saved him from pouring down Carb + hold open throttle plate little bit would saved lots of cranking
I love all these armchair internet mechanics telling how to do it. Keep the videos coming, Jonathan! Bringing back lots of good memories AND even better cars!
This brings back memories of my first car, a 67’ Chevy with a 283, Powerglide, power brakes and steering, and a/c which didn’t work like most G.M.cars of the era.
Jonathan - since you slid inside, you shoulda kicked the A/C on. Since the compressor was spinning quietly, maybe it still has Freon. Thanks so much for the fun of all your cold starts and air filter housing nut shells! Chuck in Kansas
I had the same car, my first car , 6 cylinder with an air cooled powerglide. I swapped a fresh 350 with a turbo 350 auto added a stabilizer and rebuilt the front suspension,that was 1977 and it came from south Carolina.I drove it for 9 years.
Mix gasoline with a little motor oil when starting up engines that had been sitting for years. It would help recover compression and the engine will start faster.
Reminds me of my 65 impala, back in 78 when I was 16..283 poweglide. Pump the pedal 10 times, turn over and varumph !! Pump it 5 more times- it coughed to life !! This brings back Memories !! I miss that old car..
if you look real close you can see two different fluids being used in that mt. dew bottle one squirts fast the other drips, also you can see the two fluids in the bottle dont mix either! this guy is smart he has not told us his secrets.
I live in India, unfortunately the old cars are not permitted to drive on roads here, I wish I was alive in 80's so that I'd have drove Chevrolet impala old models.
My first car was a '65 Chevy Impala bought in 1972 for $150, white with red interior. It would crank just like that on cold Minnesota mornings and, low and behold it would start! Miss it.
You know, I'm sure, that you can pull the distributor, then chuck an old long screwdriver shank into a drill, then run the oil pump for a bit with the drill to pre-lube the crank and cam bearings, right?
Enjoyed it! It is getting incredibly hard to come across carbureted engines these days. One has to love the simplicity of them; they don't ask for much to run. Gas, compression, spark all at the right time=It runs. No magic black boxes, sensors, electronic throttle bodies, etc.
Nice Impala! ;-D....HAHA! Sorry I couldn't resist! Nice Belair! I have a '66 impala I'm about to start for the first time in I don't know how long. Thanks for sharing the Video with us.
These days you'll see cars of 10-15 years old ending up in the scrap yard because of electronics that have errors that can't be fixed by mechanics. They can only replace the boards for so long until there are no spare boards being made anymore and every car in the junk yard has the same problem My car is turning 26 this year. It does have electronic injection but this kind seems to really keep going. I've seen ones where the rest of the car has rusted away but the engine still keeps going. I'm lucky mine is in mint condition and no serious rust yet :) .
Many of these old cars were scrapped because the lubricants back then were crap. Engines were sludged up before 100K miles and it was cheap to buy another car. You can drive these cars now for ages with the new synthetics oils and lubricants.
I started an old 250 in-line six cylinder that had been sitting for god knows how long. over 10 years.It was stuck but broke loose.I had a temporary gas tank hooked to it. It started but barley ran on 3 cylinders. It had stuck valves and I was holding it wide open to keep it going while dribbling marvel mystery oil down the carb and after 2 bottles it smoothed out. And after 5 or so hours of running it quit smoking. Everyone said I was wasting my time putting in my old truck but it ran good for 8 years after that until it was v8 swapped. That was after laying on its side in the dirt for 10+years. It’s still sitting in a friends garage and still runs fine. It has to have 300k on it.
Cool car, so original - Optikleen bottle, plastic wire channel below cowl not broken - they are all broken, even 30 years ago. I liked the way he respectfully didn't cut wires and lines. I have issues with the starting procedure tho. Fill the float bowl, check for accel pump operation, prime with bottle instead of pumping to preserve bowl volume, full choke and start. It should light right up instead of grinding away on the starter til he gets lucky.
There is a few things you will run into when starting old ones. The compression is always low, the valves are rarely seating proper and the rings are not seating well because of crap on the cylinder walls. The reason I like grinding on the starter is that the oil has had 30 years to drain down and building the oil pressure and getting it moving through the oil ports to the lifters and crankshaft is the most important thing to me. I never want them to fire right up. I do respect that there is as many different opinions as there are procedures to start one, but this is just mine.
Good points, I just started my Model A after 30 years [with hand crank only :-)]. I'm sure like anyone a guy wants to minimize the work but I'd fear that old starter would give up with all that extra effort. Sure, they're easy to change but who needs it? If one is gonna be grinding away on the starter anyway and are considering the cylinder walls and rings you might as well pull the plugs give a little squirt of oil [I like the combo of acetone/auto trans fluid] in the cylinders. So with plugs out spinning the engine is so much easier on the starter, battery, and will build the oil pressure a little better. Then chuck the plugs back in, fill the bowl, 5-6 acc pump squirts or equivalent from the bottle, choke and it should flame, repeat if necessary...... I know, everyones an expert :-) Nice report anyway, Thanks Jonathan.
@@flamingodebra the video would be lame if it fired right up which it wouldn't because like the video maker said grinding the starter is good for the engine like oh yea ive been siezed up here for 99 years lets just turn 3k rpms right away yeah right.
I bet the rocker and lifter racket was because it was all gummed up with Quaker State oil with paraffin... LOL remember that stuff back in the day... A lot of people use it back then... They changed it years later... I remember taking apart some old 327 and 350 with only 50,000 to 75,000 miles and having to scrape and pick and dig that nasty stuff out from around the rockers and valve springs with the oil drain back holes all stopped up... Drop the oil pan and it would be 1/2 full of that nasty junk... Those were the days...
After 27 years, without running the car showed to be good, 27 years stopped it is natural for the engine to go out smoke, since the ring segments are locked because they became folder ... More congratulations!
Great fun here ..... likely the 283 was a 195 hp ....chev engines usually placed a sticker on the valve covers to give displacement and hp .... amazing how you find these cars and pass on ......so cool Cheers Alberta Dave
The Canadians seem to cherish these early 60's Chevys. I once met a girl from Alberta years ago, while my college buddy and I were camping on the Oregon Coast. She and her BFGF had driven there in her 4Door 59 Impala on a camping excursion. There's more to that story, but irreverent to the subject matter! Wink! ;-} ;-D :-)
Its not that we cherish the early 4 door chevs ....that is what usually we had as cars....We were a society that most Canadians had the plain GM cars. With a total population of less than 18 million in the late 50's Canada got the leftovers no frills cars ... I do remember seeing the odd 65 Impala purple 2 door . That was not the norm on the streets..lol
Good ole Mountain Dew will start anything I had a 66 Belair with a straight 6cyl. Never on the road though, the Uncle of a girl I was dating at the time gave it to me. I was 16, no license so, I would sit in it, start it, drive it up and down the driveway, listen to the radio... Loved that car. I know this sounds really odd but, I do not recall what the hell I did with it :P I *think* I sold it for a couple hundred bucks. This was around 1985/86 dark blue 4 dr, light blue interior
Get the small plastic bottle from a lady's hair dye kit. It has a spout with a cap. The spout allows for much more precise control and can be used to directly fill the float bowl with fuel, without spilling it everywhere else. This will let the car idle for a moment or two, before hooking up the fuel line to the carb, long enough to quickly get an idea of where you're at with the engine before spending more time. Works lots better than trying to keep it idling by squirting the gas down manually.
That squirrel was busy storing acorns and nuts around that filter. I had the air box of my F150 that had acorn squirrel storage inside it breathes much better after I got it cleaned out lol That one definitely needed a lot more gas to get started than any other engines I have seen you cold start. Still after 27 years and you got her to fire off and run good for awhile. Well that guy is gonna get some parts off it to make a fairly decent running car so that's good at least it was of use to someone.
I believe all cars from the early 60s by law had PCV valves but they weren’t an entirely closed system like today. You still had a vented oil filler cap but the majority of crankcase gas was recirculated.
Chevy also made a car called a Bisquene. It had the same Body style. The difference between them was option,and engine packages. Pittsburgh used Bisquenes as patrol cars in the sixties.
Keep doing what you are doing. I am 23 and have all old carb vehicles. Point being that there is a market for the "old" vehicles. Too many are going to the crusher. Keep those old vehicles going.
I had a 69 472 caddy and ran 80:1 premix with TCW3, i would run it through out the motor and wanted to go with a Makuni oil injection pump. I use this in my truck and it works great as i am now using Amsoil Dominator oil that burn cleaner.
i did this same song and dance on a 73 station wagon with 400 small block. i am still running the engine in a78 elcamino. ithink it is going to run forever
If it's old even though it's a 4 door, it's worth something! I get frustrated when people say it's only a 4 door! Get that baby restored and running good and you have a good driver with air conditioning. There's plenty of affordable aftermarket authentic parts! These things will go forever if you keep them maintained and repaired. I would agree that you probably want to get rid of the power glide and put in a 3 speed. I have an old Chevy book that says the 1965 283 2bbl engine was rated at 195 horses. The base 4 barrel was about 220hp but indicates only a 2 barrel was offered in chevy cars in 1965.
That old Chevy engine is running as good as the day they bought it little tune up no problem. LOL THEY WERE THE BEST .these millennials dont have a clue how good things were.
the 283 was the company's first engine to make one HP for every cubic inch that the engine has (283). it had 290 horse power far from your guess of 160 horse power
Depois de 27 anos, sem funcionar o carro mostrou ser bom, 27 anos parado é natural que o motor saia fumaça, uma vez que os anéis de segmentos estão trancados porquê que viraram pasta...Mais parabéns!
Them nut shells in the breather housing is actually a good thing.They are better than a K&N filter.they help the engine run cooler and cleaner.Leave them right where they are at.
Hope none of the rod bearings stick to the crank and walk with the first turn over. Had that happen on 327 that only sat 2 years. It’ll start right up sure but if you try driving it around it will waste your crank if any of them do that. Should be 190 - 200 hp. For mid 60s 283 Recommend taking distributor out and turning oil pump before moving anything crank pump get some pressure to the bearings then let it sit for few days. We used to sometime spray some paint or whatever we had in a spray can while cranking. Cylinders are totally dry. Some oil in that gas really helps.
Take some of those badly wadded up cars and drain some of the trany fluid in a container for dumping into crankcase or the fuel cells for starting the other cars that show signs of life yet. Lots cheaper than buying fuel to try them out on, Great video Jonathan
