68 roadrunner

[Ecwv83]

hi,
My wife inherited her dads 68 roadrunner.
Cosmetically it’s a project but mechanically it’s pretty sound. We’ve had it a couple years and just take it around the block once a month or so just to keep it moving. The oil still looks pretty good but I figure it’s due for a change. I have no idea what kind of oil he ran in the car so I’m looking for suggestions. It’s a 383 factory 4 speed. My only other question is it seems maybe the the carb might need some attention. Whenever we start it it takes a while to start but if you squirt some starter fluid in the carb it starts right up. Any thoughts on that would be appreciated also.
Thanks

 

[69hemibeep]

The gas evaporates out of the carb, very common. A little to much starter fluid can be damaging I prime mine with a little squirt bottle of gas. As far as oil look for a high zink content oil like Brad Penn and alike so you don't flatten the cam. The zink was removed to save catalytic converters.

 

[Ecwv83]

Thanks for the info! What harm does the starter fluid do? Just for future reference.
Also what weight oil do you recommend?

 

[quikbird]

I use 10/40

 

[Russ69Runner]

Hurts the rings and valves. Plus cold fluid in a hot motor. Yes a shot of gas. Double pump the accelerator then crank the car. This has always worked for me with the older cars.

 

[Ranger]

If the float bowls have dried out after sitting a long time, I give each bowl vent a good squirt of gas from a plastic bottle, the kind you might use for olive oil. Before you start it, hold the choke plate wide open and look down the bore as you pump the throttle once or twice. If you see fuel squirt out of the accelerator pump ports, the bowl has gas and you do not need to prime it.

Make sure your choke is adjusted properly. That can make a huge difference. When you pump the pedal once to set the choke, the choke plate should close to within 1/8" - 1/4" of completely closed. If closed tight, you are choking off all intake air and starting will be near impossible.

Oil is a very personal thing, but I use Rotella T5 10W30 with a small bottle of ZDDP Plus on my original factory 383. The ZDDP Plus may not be necessary, but I'm a belt AND suspenders type of guy. Works for me.

 

[Ecwv83]

Thanks for everyone’s input. Honestly I’m not much of a car guy. I like to look at them but don’t really know what I’m looking at. I do want to keep the car up in the condition we received it and possibly have it restored later in life. Ranger, thanks for the detailed post. It helped a lot.

 

[TOMRR]

I use the 20/50 my self

 

[Blacktop Voodoo]

I use the 20/50 my self View attachment 27009

Yep! X2!

 

[Ecwv83]

Thanks guys!
I do remember years ago him telling me he ran Castrol but I don’t know the weight.
I will probably give 20/50 a try.

 

[6PKRTSE]

Tell the wife you are going to tune the carb & drive the heck out of it this summer....

 

[Ecwv83]

Tell the wife you are going to tune the carb & drive the heck out of it this summer....

Lol thanks. We drive it every now and again to a local cruise in but usually just around the block and to gas it up every so often. When we take it out for gas we usually go get lunch or something and drive it a little longer.