Engine first start

[Ccrussell]

Hi,
Well I a finally going to attempt to start my Ghia. A 1776 .
It needed a new cylinder/piston , so I changed out all 4 piston/cyls.
Valves adjusted etc. This is a car that was a garage find that has sat for nearly 30 years. My question is this;
there is an existing external spin-on oil filter, and external cooler with electric fan. Appears to be a thermostat in the oil circuit also. I am thinking I want to prime and start this motor without the cooling circuit installed.
Does this is sound like smart way to proceed? I thought I would just connect the two external nipples at the bottom of the motor with a loop of pressure hose. Later reconnect the cooling circuit after the motor is running.
Anyway to safely calculate the additional oil the cooling circuit would require? It is a pH-8a Fram filter located above and forward of the transmission,(which I will replace of course before using),and then the additional length of hoses to connect all the parts. Any advice for this newby appreciated .
Russ.

[jeffrey8164]

Does it still have the stock oil cooler in place?
If so I see no problem bypassing the external set up.
As far as how much oil to fill it? Hard to say.
If the cooler is higher than the sump the oil may drain down when the engine is off making the stick read over full.
I’d fill it to the line and crank the engine with the coil disconnected until the pressure warning light goes out then check the level and top off as necessary
_________________
Volkswagen!
Turning owners into mechanics since 1938.

“Let he that is without oil throw the first rod”
(Compression 8.7:1)

[Ccrussell]

Hello,
Yes original oil cooler still in place. I was thinking the same thing with the additional oil quantity. Afterwards I thought I would fill the filter, then the oil hoses as much as possible, keeping a measured note of how much I’m using, and add a line to the dipstick.
Thanks for the reply.