Starting Engine with Gauges Out

[mwhitman52]

I have the gauges out on my 1984 911 Coupe for restoration. The transmission has been rebuilt & motor detailed & are ready for installation back into the car.

Here is the question, can the motor be safety started with the gauges out? I would install a aftermarket oil pressure gauge on the motor to insure there is pressure. The gauges are do back in 5 weeks & would really like to make some progress.

Thank you for your help.

[jpnovak]

As long as the leads are taped off so there is no possibility of an electrical short there is no problem.

[kerthunk]

Wouldn't you need to do something with the blue wire to the alternator light? I would think that if it was just taped off that it wouldn't activate the exciter circuit and you would just be running off the battery the entire time. I could be wrong though.

[RWebb]

you are right

I've driven other vehicles several miles that way w/o damaging the alternator, but no warranty on your 911, or particular model of alt. & voltage regulator.

I'm also just guessing that the tach. contains all the solid state devices for the pulse counting and that none are back in the engine compartment. If true, no damage. If not true...

You can certainly run a motor on a dyno w/o all the accessories, but that doesn't sound like what you are up to.

Worst case, check the schematics for everything on the 14 pin plug and then pull some pins if you need to.