Startup - and a few observations.

[OK-944]

Started up the 85.5 about an hour ago...after one brief start last November after reinstalling resealed engine (plus lots of other stuff), preceded by over three years of sitting.

Oil pressure went right to 5...alt light went out as she caught, and the alt. indicator then read a steady 14 amps (just a hair shy of 14 actually).

Idles at about 1K. After 5 minutes of idle I rev'd it up in short bursts to about 4K. Settled down nicely after this.

Other gages seem to work also. I'd rehabbed all the connections I could reach in the car...in the engine bay, behind the dash, and inside the gage cluster...and I think this has paid off.

Lights all seem to work. Turned on the a/c briefly and could hear/feel the compressor come on (would be amazing to have a/c, but it probably still "needs a recharge" as the P.O. mentioned).

I let it run for about ten minutes...hot enough to burn off residual surface oils, cleaners, etc.

Sounds like I've got one ticking lifter...but I've heard much worse - so I'm tempted to see if it can quiet down on its own. Any comments/hints here would be much appreciated.

Shifted and got it to roll back and forth in the garage. Cannot really take it out on the road yet as the brakes don't work (plus not yet insured/inspected). I rebuilt the front calipers last fall and hopefully the fronts will come back with a bleeding. Old Michelins are a bit cracked but ok for a neighborhood drive after the front brakes are working, then I'll lift up the rear to see what's what.

Temp indicator did start to rise after about five minutes... to almost halfway at ten minutes...but the fans did not come on so probably (hopefully) not hot enough. This aspect is the most nerve-wracking to me right now - that the car will be able to basically sit running and the cooling system will do its job properly. I did bleed a bit of air from the coolant bleeder valve, and will keep a 12mm in the car for awhile so I can keep doing this until I just get coolant.

P.S. pulled back and forth great (I'd rebuilt this almost three years ago) - and I topped off its reservoir.

I did hear a whiny belt - so I watched both belts with the car running (left off the top cover just for this purpose), and while it looks like the timing belt is about perfect (thank goodness!), the balance belt looks/feels too tight...so I'll try giving it a bit of slack when I have time this weekend.

My feeling about these belts is that no matter what the tool used for tensioning...nothing will beat a gut-feel for tightness - and while I do like to take a "scientific" approach wherever indicated...my sense is that I will eventually toss the krikit in favor of doing this by feel and by watching the belts run for a bit before re installing the cover. I can actually envision installing the clear plastic top cover just for this purpose.

Final observation for now: No Leaks!!

At any rate, thanks for listening. Comments are not necessary, but always appreciated!

[kfray]

Run the heat on high it helps move the air out of the system.
Good luck.