Fox Prepping a '91 to start after 5 years sitting?

[331strokerGT]

I have not started up my '91 Fox body in about 5 years. It's been sitting in my garage for that time, but I did not correclty prep it for storage i.e. fuel treatment, etc..

I see most procedures start with verifying the condition of the fuel and tank; maybe start with a manual transfer pump to siphon out the fuel and a cheap borescope to inspect? Hope the tank is decent, including the pump and sender?

Or is this just wishful thinking and just drop the tank as it likley will need to be replaced?

 

[DadLife0724]

I would say depends on what gas you put in it. I use ethanol free. It stays much better than ethanol gas. You could be looking at a fuel tank full of varnish. Definitely verify before pumping any up to the engine.

 

[AeroCoupe]

You need to drop the tank after you pump it out. It’s not hard to do and this will allow a better inspection. I would replace the rubber line between the fuel pump and fuel pump hanger and the fuel pump sock filter. If it’s the stock fuel pump I would just replace it due to the age.

 

[Mustang5L5]

I'd siphon out the tank and inspect what you get. If you can, put fresh gas in and change the fuel filter. It really all depends on how much moisture got into the fuel tank to turn that fuel to varnish. If you can get a borescope down the filler that would be good otherwise you can siphon and drop tank and see the condition. If it was relatively tight it should actually be in decent shape.

My car sat for 8 years, and then later 4 years with fuel in the tank (definitely E10 the 2nd time), and it looked spotless when I inspected.

Otherwise, change the oil, squirt a little oil into the cylinders and turn engine over by hand a few times.

 

[keel]

Crank the engine over on the starter for about 10-15 seconds to build oil pressure before you fire it off. You can do this by jumping the starter solenoid with an alligator clip or even a screwdriver.

 

[AeroCoupe]

Or pull the distributor and prime it with a cordless drill so you done scar the bearings on a dry crank.

 

[limp]

Crank the engine over on the starter for about 10-15 seconds to build oil pressure before you fire it off. You can do this by jumping the starter solenoid with an alligator clip or even a screwdriver.

Maybe just pull the coil wire??

 

[limp]

I can be pretty anal but this is overdone way too many times...
Smell the gas.. Smells OK, move forward, smells bad, siphon out and put in some fresh gas and a new fuel filter.
Pull the coil wire and crank it over until you read some oil pressure
MAYBE pull the plugs before you crank it over and squirt some oil or lube in each cylinder before cranking
Reinstall plugs, start the bithc. ( spelled incorrectly for the Karens)

 

[keel]

Maybe just pull the coil wire??

I prefer not to do it this way because the injectors will still fire and it's probably not great for the cylinder walls to have a bunch of fuel coming in while cranking for an extended period. Could also pull the fuel pump relay and then use the key. That's just me being overly careful though.

 

[Mustang5L5]

Foot to floor. TPS signal maxed out. ECU in flood clear mode and the injectors will not fire.

 

[General karthief]

Key off, jump the solenoid with a screwdriver, use a mechanical oil pressure gauge.
Oh, make sure it's in neutral
Ask me what happens if you don't check.....

 

[DadLife0724]

Key off, jump the solenoid with a screwdriver, use a mechanical oil pressure gauge.
Oh, make sure it's in neutral
Ask me what happens if you don't check.....

What happens if you don't?

 

[LILCBRA]

What happens if you don't?

 

[LILCBRA]

A little late to the party but I'll add to the discussion - clear your lines and rails as well. The fuel in them will be just as bad as the fuel that may have been left in the tank. It will take quite a bit of time to get it cleared out if you only deal with the tank and try to run it from there.

 

[limp]

I prefer not to do it this way because the injectors will still fire and it's probably not great for the cylinder walls to have a bunch of fuel coming in while cranking for an extended period. Could also pull the fuel pump relay and then use the key. That's just me being overly careful though.

Good point, I am thinking carb... Isnt' there a fuse you can pull ?? I see it done on you tube all the time

 

[Lapping2632]

Yeah you can crank it with no fuel. Unplug the inertia switch or pull the fuel pump relay and it'll spin without the pump running. Good way to build oil pressure first. After 5 years I'd drop the tank before anything else. Old gas turns to varnish and plugs the sock and the pump. New pump and sock, flush the lines and rail, new filter. Write down what you replaced as you go, makes chasing problems later a lot easier.