Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Reviving a Cummins that has been sitting

[DPapworth]

I recently acquired a 1995 2500 Dodge CTD 4x4 Automatic.



The truck has been sitting (not started) for at least a year. Prior to that last start, it had probably been sitting for a year before that. (It has some sort of transmission problem). I got it for a good price, so it seems a worthy "project".



I plan to change the oil and filter, and change the fuel filter. If it were a gasoline v8, I would pull the distributor and spin the oil pump to build pressure and thus avoid the dry start. But I can't think of any way to do that with the Cummins, short of installing some sort of pre-oil kit. (I suppose I could disconnect the fuel solenoid, and spin the starter, but even that seems a little hard on the engine).



Does anyone have any ideas? Anything else I should do prior to trying to fire it up?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hi DPapworth, welcome to TDR. The only think you'd hurt cranking it is the starter, but it can take it. With all the injector installs I've been involved with (which often require TONS of cranking afterwards) there's never been a problem with the starter.

Go ahead and disconnect the fuel solenoid, give it a couple rounds of 10-15 seconds of cranking and you're golden.

 

[The patriot]

A year isnt very long. You should be good to go.

 

[Missouri Mule]

It seems to me that pulling the connector for the fuel shut off solenoid and cranking was a procedure mentioned in theTDR magizine. Keep you cranks short, you should only have to doit afew times.

Make sure you put oil in the oil filter before installing.

 

[DPapworth]

Thanks for the advice. The whole process proved anticlimactic. The solenoid can be disconnected at the electrical connector on top of the engine. Easy to reach.

It took two 20 second cranks, separated by a 30 second pause, to build oil pressure. This also re-filled the fuel filter.

I reconnected the solenoid, spun the starter about 5 seconds, and the Cummins came to life after its long nap. It ran a little rough for about 15 seconds, then smoothed out.

Easy.

The driveline does indeed make strange and intermittent grinding noises after a couple of miles of driving, but it sounds like it is coming from the transfer case, or even farther back, and not from the transmission. Weird. Oh well, it was purchased as a "project truck"...

 

[arthr31]

if you are already driving it, that's pretty awesome.

 

[WDimig]

heck yea! i wish i had another daily driver 12v so i could really turn my other truck into my "big project" truck. it's well on it way, but i still need to drive it on the street every nor and then.



wes