First attempt, cranking the engine resulted in nothing. Double checked distributor and plugs/wires, gas in carb. Tried again, cranked more than I would like but started, revs quickly got up to over 2000 then it died. Waited and tried again...this time gas began overflowing out of the secondary vent..lots of fuel draining into the engine. Dammit! Changed the oil and filter, pulled the carb, double checked float settings and replaced the needle and seat. (even though I rebuilt the carb before re-installing the engine). Tried again. Again cranked more than it should but this time, started and stayed running. Set the rpm at 2500ish. Welp. 5 minutes into cam break in..flame eruption on the driver side of the engine bay. Had the car halfway in the garage because light rain was happening off and on...got it shut down and shoved into the driveway before the fire could lick the ceiling, then had to put out a 4'x6' pool of fire on the garage floor before I could get to the car. Extinguisher quit after putting out the floor fire so I had to use the hose on the engine. Looks like the car is okay other than some slightly cooked paint on firewall/inner fenderwell area. Everything not made of metal on that side of the engine is BBQd, wiring melted, brake MC and valve cover, ..at this point it does not look like it was started by anything electrical, the bulkhead is somehow okay but who knows what has been damaged. Oil on the floor but I won't put it up on jacks to investigate until it's safe. I hate to admit it seeing as how I've done this quite a few times without major issues, but at first glance it seems like maybe the hose from the oil pressure test gauge I had hooked up may have contacted the header pipe, got a hole, and began spraying oil when I was up front tweaking the distributor and checking the fuel level sight glasses. In other words, a disaster...Tough break but I'm feeling fortunate it wasn't worse..
So. If I'm able to repair/replace the damaged parts, can I continue the break-in procedure where I left off? I'm thinking (hoping) at this point that the engine is okay and won't need to come out (again)...
So. If I'm able to repair/replace the damaged parts, can I continue the break-in procedure where I left off? I'm thinking (hoping) at this point that the engine is okay and won't need to come out (again)...
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