car that has set for 30 years

ok so it looks like i am buying a car that was parked 30 years ago when the starter failed...what should i swap out to get this thing up and running...i have a general idea but more info cant hurt

 

First off what kind of car is it?

 

On the motor Prime the motor ,Look for another distributor and make a primer that works in a drill 2.Make sure valves arent stuck ,But first pull plugs and crank by hand,New gas out of fuel jug ,I started one after 20 + years ,But not 30 .

 

Starter I could not resist All fluids,or maybe just check the condition and levels,possibly get it running then change fluids. I have found the gas and gas tank seem to be the biggest issue. What make,model and year? Good luck Gus

 

30 years is borderline on pulling the oil pan. By 40 years there will be goo that will block the oil pump screen.

 

Don't forget the obvious stuff like the fuel lines, soft brake lines, etc.

 

Puul the plug and squirt some marvel mystery oil down the cylinders and let it sit overnight before turning over. It helpsand has always worked for me. good luck.

 

its a 54 belair

 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1316504&id=1453975923

 

im pc dumb so i dont know how to show the pic

 

File the points, gap them.
Drain the 30 year old gas and put in fresh.
If you have the patience, do as above and squirt some Marvel or ATF in the cylinders and let sit overnight.
Prime the carburetor with fresh gas.
Throw a hot battery in car x and give her a spin!

 

HOLD THE PHONE!!!!!

What's the story on the '34?

JH

 

HOLD THE DAMN PHONE!!!!!

What's the story on the '34?

JH

 

ahahah there is that one not for sale a totally finished one and another in a field that may be coming home too

 

Here Ya go....

 

so i was running my route today and couldnt find a house so i stopped by a local farmers place to ask him and what do i see this great bel air and as i get closer i see the 34..and almost shit myself...ends up the farmer..Allan used to race back in the 50s and thats why he has the 34s...he parked the belair in 1970 when the starter shit out and bought a new c10 pickup which he still has....i spent over an hr at his place today talking to him what a great guy

 

Snazzy. When I was a kid my friend and I used to play in an abandoned 54 Bel-Air four door.

 

I added the other 2 also...

 

im soo friggin thrilled

 

I would be suspect of even the hard lines ( brakes) after 30 years, after all it would'nt take long to replace them and then you will know when You get it going You can also stop. Von Doc

 

You probably should put a wrench on the pulley, or just use the fan and push on the belt, and see if the damn thing even turns at all. I'm betting no.

As for what to change, rebuild carb, fuel pump, replace every rubber thing on it... but before you do that, make sure it's not cracked, if he just parked it and never drained it, it's probably cracked by now and junk anyways. Drain the oil and see what color it looks like, if it comes out looking like chocolate milkshake, forget it.

 

now i need to figure out if i want to swap it out for the 350 i got sitting in my garage

 

Looks like its a four door.

 

I started the 53 210 I have now after sitting for 17 years. Everything that could leak oil did.

Ran sandpaper in the points, changed the oil, put a electric pump on the fuel line and sucked the tank dry, marvels in the cyl, crank it over without spark to make sure it turned over well, replaced coil, rebuilt carb, etc, etc, etc, etc. Added more gas and sucked that through the line too. Got it to start and ran pretty decent.

Ran it for 2 years like that and now tore the whole thing out to put rings and valvejob on it, and replace EVERY GASKET on the engine and trans. It was leaking more than it was keeping.

Redid the brakes from scratch. They were all junk except for the drums.

I'm just about ready to put it back in within a few weeks.

 

yes a 4 door ......still stoked

 

I just took a minute to do the math. Seems like the car was parked 40 years ago. I'd be real surprised if the motor was still loose. And I'd definitely drain the sludge out of the pan, maybe even pour a gallon of kerosene in the motor, let it sit for a couple days, drain it, fill it with fresh oil, and then try to prime the motor to see if the oil pump isn't full of congealed dinosaur blood. Plus all of the other recommended cylinder treatments. Chances are that just draining the gas and pouring fresh in the tank will be a waste of time, I'd expect that you're going to be faced with some carb and fuel pump work as well.

 

shit ur right

 

my 56 sat for over 25 and Ive had to replace everything rubber from end to end.....flush the systems and damn sure replace ALL the brake lines........

 

i just resurrected a SBC dormant since '81. as mentioned before, spin that oil pump before ya start it, new oil, filter and go through the carb. don't necessarily need to rebuild but definitely clean it out. i found some really interesting shit in mine! she smoked a few minutes when i 1st started her but it cleared right up and runs pretty damn good for a free "dead" motor. oh! and a new fuel pump, filters and erring on the side of caution, all new belts, lines and hoses.

 

im expecting the worst so if it goes well then im suprised