verc

iTrader: (12)

Yeah, yeah, I know it's really bad to leave a car standing there for more than a couple months.

So the story is I need to get a neglected '88 firebird up and running and drive it from my house in San Ramon (northeast bay) to Stanford (southwest bay). Now that is pretty far...

The car was running good before I stopped driving it (car has 135k miles, engine and transmission were rebuilt @ 110k miles), so the only damage will be from letting it rust for a couple of years.


What should I do to get it prepared to make the 50 mile journey? Battery, Oil, coolant, transmission fluids?


Thanks,
Ambert

Group B

iTrader: (3)

Check the water level on the battery, if low, add some, and see if it will take a charge. More than likely it will have corroded terminals, and be dead though.

Drain all the gas out of the gas tank, and put in a bottle of Chevron techron fuel system cleaner, then add some fresh gas. The old gas is stale.

After fresh oil, a coolant flush, and tranny fluid & filter change, take each sparkplug out and pour some Marvel Mystery oil in the cylinder, like a 2tsp, then reinsert sparkplugs (with anti-sieze on the threads), disconnect the coil to the distributor, and crank the motor over a few times.

This will lube your pistons & rings, and clean out the cylinders a bit before you fire up the motor. Otherwise you may crack a ring, or scuff-up a cylinder.

Real pimps will also get the drill-attatchment that goes in to the hole for the distributor, so they can pump oil through the motor without cranking the engine.

DJTEN4

iTrader: (4)

wow, you are very knowledgable (how do you spell that)

HellaDumb

iTrader: (3)

[QUOTE=dahveed]

Drain all the gas out of the gas tank, and put in a bottle of Chevron techron fuel system cleaner, then add some fresh gas. The old gas is stale.

QUOTE]
I bought a truck that sat for >4 years (it ran fine on "stale" gas). I wouldn't bother draining the fuel... just add a little new fuel and use that fuel water remover additive stuff that costs a couple bucks.

dr3d1zzl3

iTrader: (1)

ask me in another few months when my cars are both running. haha

bluwrxwgn

iTrader: (3)

I agree with what Davheed said. But just to be on the safe side, inspect your spark plug wires and distributor and it wouldn't hurt to change the plugs and put in new ones.

porkchop

what about cracks in the tires??

verc

iTrader: (12)

Like I mentioned, a couple years.
Ok, so

1. check the battery
2. add a little cleaner and/or replace to the gas ( I was originally going to drain it, add a tank of premium and all that "fuel injector cleaner", and "engine cleaner" "Z-Max engine protection" crap they sell at Kragen and drive around,
3. check hoses, wires, etc.
4. replace all fluids and filters
5. "Marvel mystery oil" I can get this where?




Thanks, Dahveed and all

Group B

iTrader: (3)

you can get the marvel mystery oil at Kragens or any other auto parts store.

and what Tommah said about dry-rot is true...

HomerJay

iTrader: (3)

If you do get it running, change the brake lines(or at least check their integrity) and replace fluid and bleed brakes. Non-synthetic brake fluid will eat through the lines and you'll have no brakes.

Wingless Wonder

iTrader: (7)

If you don't need the car any longer you could try selling it 'as is' and let the buyer handle transporting the vehicle. Of course, the law now reads that the seller is responsible for a smog inspection for a pending sale. Are you just planning on parking it at Stanford and letting it sit once more?

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

Littleboyblue

My friend and I just started a car that sat for 25yrs. Dont ask why it sat that long, my grandma just kept it in the garage. Im sure most of the post have covered this, but this is what we did.
1. Clean engine compartment
2. Re-lube everything!
3. Replace all the fluids(gear,tranny,coolant,oil etc,brake,etc.)
4. Replace the sparkplugs and shot engine cleaner into the spark plug holes
5. Replace the battery
6. Drain the fuel and put new fuel in
7. Check all the hoses and make sure none of them are cracked
8. Replace all the filters
9. I know we did more, but I cant think of them right now

When we started the car, we cranked it over a few times before we started it up. Just to get the engine lubed. Our car started right up and it sounded really strong! Good luck!

verc

iTrader: (12)

Sorry for gravedigging, y'all, but what is the actual name of this drill-attachment?

Thanks,
Ambert

Zoeb2s

iTrader: (38)

just following up....