Getting ready to crank a motor what is not in my check list/ motors running now newb questions

[Bullet Bob]

Slowly getting things ready to crank the motor in my grandfather's truck. It is a 1980 C20 with a 454 that came out of something from the mid 70s, and has been sitting up for around 8 years. So far I have removed the plugs and put a splash of marvel mystery oil in each hole. Put the plugs back in to insure trash doesn't make it's way in while I do other stuff. I've removed the fuel line going from pump to carburetor and got it blown out. Motor oil looks good no signs of water or trash, going to change it after I get it cranked.
For once I have a decent day to dedicate to working on it tomorrow and would like to crank or make an attempt to crank it by the end of the day. Here is what I'm planning on doing please let me know if I should add anything.
1) get fitting to go from a gas jug to the fuel pump. Since I had 3 failed attempts to drain both tanks
2)put a fresh battery in
3) pull plugs out turn motor over by hand a couple times.
4) put new plugs in even though the old ones look good.
5) put plug wires back on luckily I labeled which position they where in before I took them off
6)put fuel line back on with new fuel filter.
7) attempt to crank it. Carburetor bowl is empty and did not appear to have trash in it. Swabbed it with long qtips and carb cleaner.
Have I missed anything other than pulling the relay for the pumps in the fuel tanks since I'll be using a jug, and is there a way to know if the mechanical pump will work without trying it out?

 

[yevgenievich]

Prime with oil

 

[Matt69olds]

Pull the distributor and prime the engine. Spin the oil pump until you have oilcoming from every rocker arm. Fill the float bowl with fuel. Make sure the distributor is installed corrrectly so it starts quickly. Good luck.

 

[Snoots]

Pull the distributor and prime the engine. Spin the oil pump until you have oilcoming from every rocker arm. Fill the float bowl with fuel. Make sure the distributor is installed corrrectly so it starts quickly. Good luck.

X2

 

[Westislander]

Pull the distributor and prime the engine. Spin the oil pump until you have oilcoming from every rocker arm. Fill the float bowl with fuel. Make sure the distributor is installed corrrectly so it starts quickly. Good luck.

Yup x3

 

[Bullet Bob]

Well I want to call it a success and failure at the same time. Didn't hook up a jug like I planned. Left the fuel line off and slipped a hose over it and ran it to a bucket. Filled the bowl and she busted off no problem. Tried a second time did the same thing ran until the bowl was empty. Figured I might have some gas in the bucket by now, and none to be found not even a hint. Filled the bowl for a third try and had sparks fly from the alternator. Now I have zero power even with a booster pack hooked up. Taking a break and going to see if I can get a game plan together

 

[waynew]

Sparks from the alternator are not normal. Might check for a loose ground wire or have the alternator checked.

 

[RustyPile]

Sorry, I'm a little late to the party.. Cranking the engine before changing the oil is a bad idea.. Change the oil and filter FIRST to remove any contaminants.. Remove the distributor and as others have said, prime the oiling system. then proceed with the start up ritual...

 

[Rusty Nail]

I would have changed the oil and filter FIRST.

I apologize for being late. Sue me.

 

[Zoomalot]

PRE-PRIME/With Fresh Oil,

 

[Bullet Bob]

Since I'm out sick with a man cold I picked up fresh oil and filter while in in town, along with valve cover gaskets. Going to change the oil before I crank it again. Figured the 8 year old valvoline VR1 50W behind the seat might have gone past its shelf life also.

 

[Bullet Bob]

So the truck will run off what I put in the bowl. Hooked up a 2 gallon gas can using hose barbs and hose to the carb. The carburetor is a Rochester. I replaced the filter and the new one looked like it had a piece of plastic on the inside like a check valve. Still just runs off what's in the bowl. Thinking the filter is keeping the fuel from getting to the carburetor or just not enough fuel getting to it. Anyone have any idea as to what I should try? Would pulling that filter out and using a universal inline be worth trying, or do I need to hook up to the mechanical pump? Reason I am using a jug is I have 2 full tanks of old fuel I have been unable to siphon and was hoping to just use the trucks pumps to empty.

 

[idahovette]

Ya gotta have a pump or else gravity to get the fuel to the carb, right?

 

[Bullet Bob]

I hung the tank from the hood like an IV bag. The more I think about it I think it's the new filter. My old one didn't have the little plastic piece inside. Think it's supposed to be a check valve of some sort. Going to stop on the way home in the morning and get a filter to plug into my temporary fuel line and pull the fuel filter out of carb. If that don't work I'll try something else.

 

[WFO]

That ought'a do it. Gravity probably doesn't have enough pressure to open the check valve.