starting 2.3L for the 1st time in 8 years

76_Cobra_II · Apr 14, 2007

My Ghia with the 2300 has been sitting for about 8 years now... Hasnt been turned over once in that time. What should be my process of getting this thing back to life? When it was parked I "assumed" it needed a total rebuild and just couldnt afford it, then got married and shortly after, had a kid.... So its been on the back burner for SOME TIME! When I parked it, it had NO POWER, it would run, but barely. It didnt smoke or run rough though. Should I maybe cut the exhaust off to see if its just a clogged cat and put a batt. in and try to crank it? Should I drain the gas? I need to know what to do (since its been sitting) before I mess it up more, and then what to look for for it to be a total rebuild. Ive never done this and am having someone help me who knows how to rebuild. Thanks!

2muchtime · Apr 14, 2007

check the timing belt...its needed..after that alot of wd 40 and drain and fill the gas tank, carb flush or rebuild, new filters, oil change and so on..and mabye it will start..
as long as the car isnt sunk in the ground or rotted to ****..
i definately wouldnt start with the converter..as a matter of fact dont even consider what happened 10 yrs ago......yet..

2muchtime · Apr 14, 2007

it will probably start and run with a new battery and starting fluid.. but its not the right way. I can only imagine what that timing belt looks like after yrs of dry rot..
the gas and tank... oh boy.. depends how much gas was in it, it could be completely rotted inside, at the very least drain it and see what comes out..
and definately replace the fuel and filters.

eaglecap · Apr 14, 2007

76_Cobra_II said:
My Ghia with the 2300 has been sitting for about 8 years now... Hasnt been turned over once in that time. What should be my process of getting this thing back to life? When it was parked I "assumed" it needed a total rebuild and just couldnt afford it, then got married and shortly after, had a kid.... So its been on the back burner for SOME TIME! When I parked it, it had NO POWER, it would run, but barely. It didnt smoke or run rough though. Should I maybe cut the exhaust off to see if its just a clogged cat and put a batt. in and try to crank it? Should I drain the gas? I need to know what to do (since its been sitting) before I mess it up more, and then what to look for for it to be a total rebuild. Ive never done this and am having someone help me who knows how to rebuild. Thanks!

First put a couple gallons of fresh gas in tank and let it sit for 48 hours. Then disconnect fuel hose BEFORE fuel pump and drain. Use air pressure to force everything out of the tank. Do this a couple of times. If there was much gas in the tank there will be jelly, rust, crap, etc that needs to come out. I would also pull the carb and clean it up well. Change oil, points, condensor, check adjust plugs, time. I woul probably check compression as well.

After eight years your brake cylinders are probably corroded to the point they will not work. Be aware if it starts and you try to drive it. May be in for a surprise.

Wart · Apr 14, 2007

Whats been said abo9ut the belt, Yeah, it should be replaced as a matter of form.

Fuel: Use an external 'tank'. Best is a external tank for a outboard motor. Worry about what's in the fuel tank later.

Change oil.

Pull the spark plugs, put a couple of CCs of OIL into the cylinders. With the plugs removed spin the engine till it makes pressure.

If it were me I would change the oil and spin the engine sans spark plugs and filter till oil came from the filter mount. Then I would install the oil filter and spin the engine till oil pressure is made.

When spinning the engine lock the plates it at WOT.

Prime the carb through the vent, pump the throttle till it squirts, look for leaks. Don't be surprised if the accelerator pump diaphram is done.

Fire extinguisher.

Wart · Apr 14, 2007

eaglecap said:
First put a couple gallons of fresh gas in tank and let it sit for 48 hours. Then disconnect fuel hose BEFORE fuel pump and drain. Use air pressure to force everything out of the tank.

Not a good idea with a 30 year old tank.

It's begging for a rupture.

And the pickup screen tends to rot. And plug.

About the only way to clean a II tank is to remove the sending unit at the least, best to pull the tank from the car and steam/ take to a pro.

76_Cobra_II · Apr 14, 2007

Well, I know the brakes work cause just 2 years ago we moved into the house and had to bring it here on a trailer. Rolled it off the trailer and HAD to use the brakes, or I would have hit my dog, who was in the way! I honestly dont wanna go through dropping the tank, I did put StaBil in the tank about 4 years ago, if that helped any...Who knows!? I was thinking of taking off the carb, but Ive heard those gaskets are hard to find. So Im just gonna use starting fluid. As for the Fire Extinguisher.... Dont worry, having 2 Mustang II's in the garage that was the first thing to be mounted on the wall!

Blue coyote · Apr 14, 2007

Personally, if its been sitting 8 years and you were thinking about rebuilding it anyway...just yank it out and rebuild it. For the effort of getting it to MAYBE run, you're better off stripping it down and making SURE its good to go (and go FASTER, with the rebuild!)

Keep in mind that if you DO get it running as it sits, then a week down the road some piddly little part fails, you may not get the chance to rebuild it...

If you don't mind spending the money to rebuild it, then either get another 2.3 that you can build up (and then go ahead and run the current one until it explodes or quits) or just pull it out and start working on it now.

Just my .02

starting 2.3L for the 1st time in 8 years

76_Cobra_II

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eaglecap

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