Pull Start 351W

[WhiteTrashDoc]

I am about to drop a 351W into my 84 Ranger. And I got the idea of trying to make it a pull start. I realize that the motor itself has too much compression for me to feasibly pull start it from the crank. What I was thinkin is getting some kind of generator or something that when I pulled the cord, it would give power to the starter or even just jump the solenoid. Anybody have any ideas on this? I realize that there isn't really point to doing it, other than I think it would be unique and kind of neat. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

P-39 Aircobra airplanes had a big spring that could be wound up with a crank, and then once wound the pilot would use it to crank over the engine incase the regular electric starting system failed.

IMO it would take a lot of work to make something that isn't that usefull, but that is just me.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Maybe whind the rope around a pulley hooked to the postive battery cable? Hook it on some sort of slide where it would slide onto the cable and give power to the starting system.

I dunno?

later,
Dustin

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

if your just going for unique...what about an air starter? big tank of compressed air spins an air motor that spins the engine over. could be fun...

 

[doorgunner]

Sure/right up my alley: take the pull crank mechanism off an old lawn-mower/repaint it to match ur truck/mount a spring-loaded switch inside the cover of the pull-crank/wire it to the starter soleniod thru the nuetral safety switch so it stays engaged as long as the rope is pulled out/bolt it to the truck where-ever suits you/Enjoy! Note:my '41 streetrod had the orig. engine with the crank-handle hole in the lower radiator grill--the battery got too weak to turn the starter, so I used the crank-handle to start the engine for nearly a year till the old battery finally got too weak to fire the plugs(why?-cause it was fun)

 

[RangerFabWorks]

im with doorgunner, do an old style crank hole and do a crank handle like back in the 40's, that would be pretty cool.

 

[doorgunner]

I think if you combine blackwidow's idea with my switch idea, you'd have something that looked real & worked. Matter of fact, I'm gonna do it on my '89-'36 Ranger build.Thanks for the idea whitetrashdoc. (now where's my sacremento vintage ford catalog?) Wait a minute! That sounds like something Hazmat would accuse me of thinking up!

 

[RangerFabWorks]

someone better call stephen king, christine is returning!!!!

 

[rusty ol ranger]

My old 48 Int'l cub tractor has a crank start in additon to the electric starter. Never had the balls to try it though.

later,
Dustin

 

[RangerFabWorks]

My old 48 Int'l cub tractor has a crank start in additon to the electric starter. Never had the balls to try it though.

later,
Dustin

do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it

 

[Mac]

You could make up some kind of fake crank with a remote starter button in the end of the handle. All them old motors being talked about were half the size of a 351 and probably running only 7:1 compression. Even without the spark plugs in a 302, its really hard to get it to turn, never fast enough to fire. Sound like a fun project though. Make the crank up out of tubing and run any wires inside of it.
Dave

 

[RangerFabWorks]

You could make up some kind of fake crank with a remote starter button in the end of the handle. All them old motors being talked about were half the size of a 351 and probably running only 7:1 compression. Even without the spark plugs in a 302, its really hard to get it to turn, never fast enough to fire. Sound like a fun project though. Make the crank up out of tubing and run any wires inside of it.
Dave

i can kinda agree on the compression, but remember, the old v8 flat heads had the crank handle on em, so it is possible. but it would kill your arms trying to. and if the motor snapped back, you would break your arm.

 

[doorgunner]

blackwidow67....Waaaaa-haaaaaa-haaa-haaa. rusty ol ranger...been there did it-make sure you got good health insurance. Mac....now that's hi-tech. blackwidow67....things are startin to get scarey! Oh, make sure it's in neutral!(not that i e-e-ever made that mistake!)

 

[Mac]

i can kinda agree on the compression, but remember, the old v8 flat heads had the crank handle on em, so it is possible. but it would kill your arms trying to. and if the motor snapped back, you would break your arm.

Breaking the arms is why Charles Kettering invented the "Self Starter" way back in 1910. Formed Dayton Engineering Lab Company, we now know as DELCO. Sold his invention to Cadilac and others. Henry Ford was really slow to adapt others inventions and intovations, like hydraulic brakes.
Dave

 

[WhiteTrashDoc]

OK so a lawn mower pull start with a spring loaded switch. Routed through the neutral safety switch to the solenoid. I could then mount this behind the grill. the truck already sits on 36's so under the hood would be hard to get a good pull on it, plus it would be more of a hassle to have to keep popping the hood. I had thought about doing the hand crank idea, but I think of that as a more era specific item. More nostalgic than white trash. I realize that it is pointless, but would be a great conversation piece. And would make the truck unique. And it shows some of my personality. Why else do we do things to our trucks, if not to show some of our own personality. I enjoy being unique, but this sort of thing is what interests me. I am not wanting to do it just to be different, but because I think it would be neat. I will keep you posted on how it turns out. Right now I am still in the market for a donor truck with a 351W and a 205. The tranny isn't as important, I will take what I can get. I am also going to swap out the axles. I hope I can complete all of this by the fall. I am planning on taking it to Alaska with me when I move. But it will be primarily a secondary vehicle to go play in. I am going to tow my Subaru for my DD up there. It is a better choice with the awd than my 95 Mustang GT convertible.