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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

After 20+ years sitting outside, restoration has started with fuel

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Birone
  • Start date Start date Oct 8, 2022
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ChillPhatCat

20+ Year Stangneter
Apr 22, 2002
409
65
48
Syracuse, NY
Oct 12, 2022
#21
  • Oct 12, 2022
  • #21
RockstarMach1 said:
Wow so much rust, as if it was stored outside somewhere in New Egland
Click to expand...

Heh my car sat with 1/8 tank outside, under the eve of a barn (that is, with rain pouring off of it onto the middle of the car) for 3 years before I bought it and the tank inside was spotless when I got to it. This tank looks like it's been to hell and back. Dang!
 

John Birone

15 Year Member
Nov 19, 2012
57
11
18
Raleigh, NC
Oct 15, 2022
#22
  • Oct 15, 2022
  • #22
I’m shocked it ran 4 years ago. Is there a way to replace the rubber line from fuel filter to hard line? I can’t find that part..:
 

evintho

20+ Year Stangneter
Nov 12, 2003
683
245
73
Santa Rosa, CA.
Oct 15, 2022
#23
  • Oct 15, 2022
  • #23
If you can't find the factory rubber line from the filter to the hard lines, I see no reason why you couldn't just use fuel injection hose off the reel at NAPA. Clamp both ends with FI hose clamps. The duckbill clips are a Ford concoction that aren't really necessary. I used Mustang hardlines and filter bracket on my '54 build and connected everything with FI hose and clamps.



 
C

chrlsful

Active Member
Mar 6, 2021
278
37
38
Lawrence Swamp, S.Amherst, MA
Oct 16, 2022
#24
  • Oct 16, 2022
  • #24
2X post #8. We spray in something too ('carb cleaner', PB Blaster, whatever) @ 1st, watch till clean, spray again'n the compressed ait, till we see it's clean.
Now I see the pic (external) I'd say "new hrd lines". I say "Never go 'kits' where U can make up ur own" as I like my own, need save the $.
 

John Birone

15 Year Member
Nov 19, 2012
57
11
18
Raleigh, NC
Oct 17, 2022
#25
  • Oct 17, 2022
  • #25
Thanks for the advice! I’ll blow out the lines out of curiosity, and order the hard lines. American Muscle has them at a great price.
 

John Birone

15 Year Member
Nov 19, 2012
57
11
18
Raleigh, NC
Nov 20, 2022
#26
  • Nov 20, 2022
  • #26
The saga continues… I blew the hard lines from the schrader valve and nothing but decent looking fuel. Stuck a q-tip in the end of the return line at the rear and it came out red, so some surfaces rust. I think they’ll be okay, but what do all of you think?

I removed the radiator and ordered the all aluminum one from American Muscle.

Today I planned to remove the thermostat housing so I could flush the old coolant out of the block (I purchased a new thermostat and gasket last week). Then remove each spark plug and spray fogging oil into each cylinder to soak for the next week before I fire her up next weekend. Then new fluids - oil, tranny and rear end. Install new radiator and fill, then install gas tank if time permits. I got none of that done.

Removed accessories (alternator, tensioner and brackets)to get the thermostat housing off. Once I got that off and the hose from the heater core, I saw that the return inlet from the heater core to the water pump was full of rusty crap. Awesome! Thankful I did this, as the input pipe has a good sized hole at the base where that rusty crap was sitting, on the bottom where I couldn’t have seen it. Would have sprayed coolant everywhere.

Who wants to bet that my heater core is shot as well?

How much further do I need to dig into this? I’m thinking I can connect a garden hose to to inlet pipe for the heater core and see what comes out. What about the block? Should I remove the freeze plugs and really rinse it out. Or just shoot water into the thermostat opening with vinegar, plug the outlets, and let it sit to loosen everything up followed by a thorough rinse? Open to all suggestions…
 

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Last edited: Nov 20, 2022

John Birone

15 Year Member
Nov 19, 2012
57
11
18
Raleigh, NC
Nov 20, 2022
#27
  • Nov 20, 2022
  • #27
Recommendations for the water pump?
 
C

chrlsful

Active Member
Mar 6, 2021
278
37
38
Lawrence Swamp, S.Amherst, MA
Nov 20, 2022
#28
  • Nov 20, 2022
  • #28
this is all backwards for me. We start w/getting it running (what is needed from an attempt) & go from there w/stop/go, onto safety. Some daily commutes/around towns & onto problem solving as presented. Finally - upgrades~

I suppose if thinkin "Restore" one might go in this direction...
 

John Birone

15 Year Member
Nov 19, 2012
57
11
18
Raleigh, NC
Nov 20, 2022
#29
  • Nov 20, 2022
  • #29
chrlsful said:
this is all backwards for me. We start w/getting it running (what is needed from an attempt) & go from there w/stop/go, onto safety. Some daily commutes/around towns & onto problem solving as presented. Finally - upgrades~

I suppose if thinkin "Restore" one might go in this direction...
Click to expand...
Replacing rusted fuel and cooling systems before I start it…
 
Reactions: General karthief

rednotch

I'd like to remain having one chocolate starfish
Founding Member
Aug 14, 2000
1,389
622
143
south jersey
Nov 21, 2022
#30
  • Nov 21, 2022
  • #30
Bypass the heater core for now until you fire it.... At the age of the car it needs replaced no point in flushing it.
 
Reactions: limp

AeroCoupe

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes
Founding Member
Oct 28, 2001
5,941
4,053
183
Claremore, OK
Nov 21, 2022
#31
  • Nov 21, 2022
  • #31
Flush the block. Since you are going to replace the radiator I would do this so it doesn’t get plugged if there is crap in the block. Not sure how well it will work with the water pump removed so you may have to temp that back on. Pull the T-Stat, insert hose into hole and let her eat. If you get a bunch of crap out doing just that then you may need to get more serious.

If you need to swap the heater core I have the article from MM&FF from years ago that shows how to do it. I can email it to you or if the mods want me to post it I can if is has not been.
 

bird_dog0347

still married haven't seen testicles in years
15 Year Member
Jun 7, 2012
2,302
2,039
174
Little Elm, TX
Nov 21, 2022
#32
  • Nov 21, 2022
  • #32
For sure the heater core is trash, bypass it for now until you can replace it. The job sucks, it's a PITA, but just go slow and plan for at least a half a day to get it replaced. Good call to inspect all that before trying to start it, it will pay off in the long run.
 

John Birone

15 Year Member
Nov 19, 2012
57
11
18
Raleigh, NC
Nov 21, 2022
#33
  • Nov 21, 2022
  • #33
Thanks everyone. I have a perfect replacement dash but wasn’t sure I wanted to tackle that job. I removed it from another car so I know it’s a pita. Guess I will now! I’ll flush the block with the current water pump back on and see what comes out. Any advantage to pouring vinegar in and letting it sit for some time?
 

rednotch

I'd like to remain having one chocolate starfish
Founding Member
Aug 14, 2000
1,389
622
143
south jersey
Nov 21, 2022
#34
  • Nov 21, 2022
  • #34
Vinegar would lift some scale if it can soak for a day or two, depends on how bad it is and if you want to seal it up first. For a block I'd just flush with a hose until it runs clear there generally not to bad unless it was parked with straight water in it, radiator if its calcium build up, the vinegar would work well so long as the core is still in good shape and doesn't have signs of leakage all ready, if there's a lot of blue oxidation it's probably got a pin hole or two.
 

Rdub6

So while I wait to figure out my rear end issues
5 Year Member
Dec 29, 2017
3,956
2,937
153
Long Island, NY
Nov 21, 2022
#35
  • Nov 21, 2022
  • #35
John Birone said:
Yep. Gotta love ethanol! Hoping the hard fuel lines fared better. Is there any way to replace the rubber line from the fuel filter to hard line? I have all the other soft lines, but can't find that one. Is it only available with the fuel tank to engine hard line kit for $230 at LMR?
Click to expand...
I bought nylon fuel line, and this tool from Dorman and made my own lines.

 
Reactions: bird_dog0347, 90sickfox and Potomus Pete

John Birone

15 Year Member
Nov 19, 2012
57
11
18
Raleigh, NC
Nov 26, 2022
#36
  • Nov 26, 2022
  • #36
Thanks, Rdub6, I like that idea. I’ll run it as I have it with the stock hard lines, but if they ever need to be replaced, I like your solution. Clean install and about $300 less expensive.

Good day on the car today. Flushed the engine block, no issues. Water ran clear after a few minutes. Pulled every spark plug and sprayed each cylinder with foaming oil to get them ready to move again. Plugs looked pretty good, but new ones will go in. Wires look great. Cleaned up the timing cover so I can put the new water pump on.

Moved to the rear end. Had to remove the sway bar to get to the drain plug. It had surface rust all over so I brushed that off and painted it. Thought maybe I was wasting my time when clean gear oil drained from the top hole in the pumpkin, but it was thick and nasty looking at first when I removed the bottom drain plug. It looked good after that bottom sludge cleared out. Some shavings on the magnetic plug, but nothing to worry about. Good idea to change all fluids, though the motor oil looks great on the dipstick and is at level.

New gear oil is in the rear-end, thanks to the hand pump I bought for the tranny fluid swap. Tomorrow I’m changing the tranny and motor oils and installing the water pump. New radiator and fuel tank go on next, then we fire it up. Fingers crossed!

Once she’s running I’ll remove and replace the dash and heater core. New heater core will be here next week. That job should take a couple of days! Lol!

Fun stuff, though I wish my body was in better shape for this. Stupid aging!
 

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Monkeybutt2000

Mustang Master
Aug 11, 2019
1,387
849
133
Lafayette,IN
Nov 26, 2022
#37
  • Nov 26, 2022
  • #37
ICT billet makes a perfect u-shaped hose to bypass the heater core. Works great,use it on my car.
 
Reactions: John Birone

85GTStangGuy

5 Year Member
May 19, 2021
1,002
625
133
Jax, Florida
Nov 26, 2022
#38
  • Nov 26, 2022
  • #38
John Birone said:
Pulled every spark plug and sprayed each cylinder with foaming oil to get them ready to move again.
Click to expand...
What foaming oil did you use, specifically?
 
C

chrlsful

Active Member
Mar 6, 2021
278
37
38
Lawrence Swamp, S.Amherst, MA
Nov 26, 2022
#39
  • Nov 26, 2022
  • #39
John Birone said:
...was in better shape for this. Stupid aging!
Click to expand...
Sage don't age. More drainage frm heated prts (we get running to see if it's worth more, just a different approach
 

John Birone

15 Year Member
Nov 19, 2012
57
11
18
Raleigh, NC
Dec 4, 2022
#40
  • Dec 4, 2022
  • #40
85GTStangGuy said:
What foaming oil did you use, specifically?
Click to expand...
85GTStangGuy said:
What foaming oil did you use, specifically?
Click to expand...
Sta-Bil Fogging Oil. Sorry, didn’t see this.
 
Reactions: 85GTStangGuy
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