Engine had not moved in just over 7.5 years (since accident in March 2013 !!) So, a few quick checks : Oil , water , does it turn easily by hand ?
All good - fuel still in tank - yes 1/4 full.
Battery charged - power on briefly : Check for two pumps running and no smoke / sparks where there should be no sparks :
5 secs later - vroom (so much for old wives tale about petrol going off after x months ??): Sound was "rougher" than I remembered - 5 secs later a 7th cylinder , then an 8th ................ aggghhhh ... that's more like it.
All sounded sweet - brought up to about 60C , all good ................ happy days
Engine plan thoughts are the usual simple tweeks to provide a few more useable hp : Inlet valve size , camshaft , compression ratio , and exhaust system. I suspect head design is pretty good to start with , will wait till I see what's what before I think about any mods there. My last two rally heads were breathed on by Bill Blydenstein himself - pity that option is no longer open to me.
