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Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? #1955017
11/20/15 07:45 PM
11/20/15 07:45 PM
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East Coast, NJ
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fig426 Offline OP
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I have a 318/904 car I picked up from the original owner that's been sitting since '85. He claims it ran when parked. Other than changing the fluids and fresh gas, what else should I be doing or looking for before I try to get it running?


Chris from New Jersey
Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955031
11/20/15 08:03 PM
11/20/15 08:03 PM
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Hamtramck, PA
Alaskan_TA Offline
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Take pictures for us of course. beer

Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: Alaskan_TA] #1955037
11/20/15 08:13 PM
11/20/15 08:13 PM
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East Coast, NJ
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fig426 Offline OP
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Originally Posted By Alaskan_TA
Take pictures for us of course. beer
Yeah I'm bad with pics.


Chris from New Jersey
Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955039
11/20/15 08:14 PM
11/20/15 08:14 PM
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I'm assuming you want to make sure it runs before you do anything else. For that, changing the motor oil and getting fresh gas into it should suffice. You'll need a fresh battery and should clean battery cables.

Once the engine is running, you will see any obvious areas to fix like leaky gaskets. I wouldn't do that before and I wouldn't change anything that doesn't leak until you have done every other thing.

Once you are sure the car will start, check out the brakes. If the pedal stays off the floor, they probably work enough for you to do a "maiden voyage" around the block. Applying the brakes every so often will help clean the surfaces. Once you get the car to operating temperature you'll start to notice other things. Take care of them next.

After you start to feel pretty confident that the car will start when you get into it and motivate you for short distances, it's time for safety. I've seen 50-year-old cars with original brake hoses but I'd say flush the brake system with new brake fluid, then rebuild the wheel cylinders and check out the drums and shoes/pads. Replace the brake hoses.

Then get under the hood and replace every hose and belt. It's just common sense, they can leave you stranded as you venture farther and farther from home. You may want to rebuild the carb and clean out the gas tank.

Do not bring out the chainfall or cherry picker and start pulling the engine or disassembling the transmission. This is the best way to assure the car will never see the road again.

Please note that you have not bought expensive things like tires or ignition components yet. You have not done any major disassembly and the car is able to be driven, if only to the grocery store and back. Proceed little by little and only buy parts when you know you are going to install them today or tomorrow. No looking down the road. About this time you'll replace the windshield wipers.

As you are moving around the car you may notice that the interior needs help. Plastics become brittle and cloth rips, headliners sag. Take care of them with chemicals or seatcovers, even an old blanket can prevent the disintegration of the seat more than it is already. It's easier to prevent damage than it is to fix it. This is a lesson it took me years and years to learn.

Changing ATF and filter comes after you've put a few hundred miles on the car and can be sure there isn't something major that's going to stick the car in the garage. And of all the lubricants/fluids in the car, the differential gets changed last, after everything else is done.

There will be those who start you out by replacing every gasket and seal, rodding out the radiator, etc. Don't listen to them. Do the things that can be accomplished easily first so you can get a better idea of the car before you drop big $$$ into it.

Good Luck!

R.

Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955048
11/20/15 08:22 PM
11/20/15 08:22 PM
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East Coast, NJ
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fig426 Offline OP
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Sounds like sound advice. It's a 58k mile car and want to keep from restoring it. I just want to clean it up and enjoy it, and I'm in no position to be restoring a car right now. 3 year old son and 5 month old daughter. They get most of my spare time.


Chris from New Jersey
Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955060
11/20/15 08:40 PM
11/20/15 08:40 PM
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EWJ Offline
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If you need any help Chris, just let me know.


Ed
EastCoast Land Yacht Assoc.
1967 Newport Conv: 440/4 speed
1969 GTX: 440/4 speed, TX9/TX9, A34, N96
1970 Super Bee: 383/4 speed, B5/B7
1970 Coronet RT: 440/4 speed, A34, N96
1970 Coronet RT: 440/auto, A36, N96
1970 Road Runner convertible: 383/4 speed TX9/D6XW
1970 GTX: 440+6/727, A32, N96
2001 Dodge 2500 HO CTD, 6 speed, 4x4 quad cab long bed
"The early bird may get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese".
Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: EWJ] #1955071
11/20/15 08:53 PM
11/20/15 08:53 PM
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fig426 Offline OP
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Originally Posted By EWJ
If you need any help Chris, just let me know.
Thanks Ed. Ya have to stop by and see it. It's pretty cool. ..,,,,,, and as for your quote about the early bird getting the worm, don't forget that the early worm gets eaten!


Chris from New Jersey
Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955091
11/20/15 09:51 PM
11/20/15 09:51 PM
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I'd also pre oil the engine, by pulling the distributor and running a shaft down to the oil pump. Use a heavy duty drill and run the drill in reverse and turn the shaft until you feel the fresh oil pressure build up. ..then let the drill run for about a minute or so.

Take note of the distributor and the rotor's position before pulling it out. Reinstall it exactly where it was.


1969 A12 Roadrunner
1970 Plymouth Cuda
1968 Dodge Dart
Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955095
11/20/15 10:06 PM
11/20/15 10:06 PM
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Carb will probably need to be rebuilt before starting, be careful with the fuel pump rupturing and sending fuel into the oil.

Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955114
11/20/15 10:47 PM
11/20/15 10:47 PM
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Definitely pre oil it. You have no clue how much cranking it may take to get it going, and those bearings and all other parts have had all those years to dry out. Be sure and use an oil compatible with flat tappet cams. This is a must.
I would replace all the belts and hoses before anything beyond a test on jack stands. Ditto with the brakes. You are going to do this work anyway, might as well do it first and not risk a wreck.

Last edited by gregsdart; 11/20/15 10:49 PM.

8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: gregsdart] #1955122
11/20/15 11:07 PM
11/20/15 11:07 PM
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Lincoln Nebraska
RapidRobert Offline
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Get the dampener at 90 deg (1/4) turn BTDC #1 compression & preoil the pass side. some dampeners have partial slit (3 of em) in addition to the full (TDC) slit that will work for this or cut a strip of paper 5.694" to use as a ruler. Turn dampener 20 deg ATDC #6 compression (use the tab as a ruler to go the extra 5 deg from 15 to 20) & preoil the drivers side. Note rotor position first before pulling the dist to see whaere you are at (if you are on compression or overlap). when done set the dampener to 15 BTDC & if the (15) is on #1 compression install dist so the rotor is pointing forward and if the (15) is on #6 compression install dist tang so the rotor is pointing rearward then with the can on the pass side with room to be turned turn the housing slightly till the magnet is dead even with the tooth & check that the rotor is under or near under the #1 or #6 cap terminal. Take out the idle mixture screws & blast a 3 second shot into each small port with brake kleen or starting fluid whichever can comes with the thin red straw so you can get into the port openings. EDIT on the rotor phasing, the vac can will shift it CCW on a SB from its at rest position & a 11 deg can will shift it 11 deg around the arc (& can add up to 22 deg to the total you see at the dampener/timing tab with your light)

Last edited by RapidRobert; 11/23/15 03:07 PM. Reason: more info

live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955146
11/21/15 12:03 AM
11/21/15 12:03 AM
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Back in NJ....
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EWJ Offline
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Originally Posted By fig426
Originally Posted By EWJ
If you need any help Chris, just let me know.
Thanks Ed. Ya have to stop by and see it. It's pretty cool. ..,,,,,, and as for your quote about the early bird getting the worm, don't forget that the early worm gets eaten!


biggrin

Ha- true, true!

Yes, love to see it. Will swing by soon!


Ed
EastCoast Land Yacht Assoc.
1967 Newport Conv: 440/4 speed
1969 GTX: 440/4 speed, TX9/TX9, A34, N96
1970 Super Bee: 383/4 speed, B5/B7
1970 Coronet RT: 440/4 speed, A34, N96
1970 Coronet RT: 440/auto, A36, N96
1970 Road Runner convertible: 383/4 speed TX9/D6XW
1970 GTX: 440+6/727, A32, N96
2001 Dodge 2500 HO CTD, 6 speed, 4x4 quad cab long bed
"The early bird may get the worm, but the 2nd mouse gets the cheese".
Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955154
11/21/15 12:15 AM
11/21/15 12:15 AM
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NEW JERSEY
AARCONV Offline
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I have a 69 dart i am about to drag out of storage since 1988..the advice I will give you now is dont step on the brakes..the drum brakes might lock up the wheels from turning, its possible the springs will not return the shoes back in...so far my front wheels dont turn by hand..assuming the bearings dried out..guess I will pull on it and possible drag the car forward on its wheels to see if it rolls..

Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955276
11/21/15 11:42 AM
11/21/15 11:42 AM
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Manitoba, Canada
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Have you cranked it over yet and/or put a breaker bar on the crank nut to make sure it's not seized? Been there, done that, tried to get a 69 coronet to fire up after sitting since the 80's. No dice.

Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955282
11/21/15 11:50 AM
11/21/15 11:50 AM
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East Coast, NJ
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fig426 Offline OP
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I haven't touched it so I'll spray the cylinders and let it sit a bit. Someone also mentioned putting marvel mystery oil in the cylinders and letting that sit. Then prime the oil pump before trying to crank it.


Chris from New Jersey
Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955294
11/21/15 12:16 PM
11/21/15 12:16 PM
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Hamtramck, PA
Alaskan_TA Offline
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Stuck valves are a common problem on small blocks that have sat for a long time, so remove the covers & oil the valve stems too.

Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: Alaskan_TA] #1955300
11/21/15 12:26 PM
11/21/15 12:26 PM
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Originally Posted By Alaskan_TA
Stuck valves are a common problem on small blocks that have sat for a long time, so remove the covers & oil the valve stems too.


As I was reading through the input I was thinking the same thing. Pre oiling for sure.

I like to spray the cylinders, take the valve covers off and spray the valve train with WD40 or something similar, let it sit a while, and then turn over with a breaker bar slowly, making sure all the valves go up and down.

I've run into a stuck valve more than once; a slant six, a 318 and a 413 now that I think back on this. Good luck and have fun!


Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way
Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955326
11/21/15 01:35 PM
11/21/15 01:35 PM
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SW CO
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Just a point of clarification for preoiling, small block distributors turn clockwise. Big blocks counter clockwise. If I'm wrong someone please correct me.


'64 Sport Fury, 528 Hemi, FiTech EFI, 4-speed, 4.10 Dana 60
'57 Belvedere 2dr sedan, current project in process
'19 Cherokee Trail Hawk Elite
'03 Ram 2500 CTD HO, 6-speed 214,000 miles and still going strong
Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: HemiSportFury] #1955342
11/21/15 02:01 PM
11/21/15 02:01 PM
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East Coast, NJ
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fig426 Offline OP
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Originally Posted By HemiSportFury
Just a point of clarification for preoiling, small block distributors turn clockwise. Big blocks counter clockwise. If I'm wrong someone please correct me.
Yes you're correct about the rotation. ...., .....
..... And good thinking on the valves. That never crossed my mind, and that's why I posted the question, to pick other people's brains.


Chris from New Jersey
Re: Car sitting 30 years. What to do before starting the engine? [Re: fig426] #1955363
11/21/15 02:40 PM
11/21/15 02:40 PM
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Hamtramck, PA
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You can also remove the rocker shafts / arms while the stems are soaking. After they sit a while, gently tap each valve with a mallet. If any valves are stuck, they will sound different & you can concentrate on them.

Do not be too surprised if you tap one or more & they move but do not come back up right away. Just add more oil.

While they soak you can take photos for us. wave

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