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What to replace after sitting for 6 years?

  • Thread starter Thread starter jstang209
  • Start date Start date Sep 12, 2004
J

jstang209

20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 3, 2004
640
2
18
Stockton 209
Sep 12, 2004
#1
  • Sep 12, 2004
  • #1
Hey if i had a car sitting for 6 years and i wanted to get it runing again what should all should i plan on to replace? thanks
 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,773
17
89
Dallas, GA
Sep 12, 2004
#2
  • Sep 12, 2004
  • #2
All the fluids and the battery. The old fuel has probally become solid. You might want to wiggle the crank back and forth a little to break any deposits that have petrafied.

I looked into this because I was going to marry this girl who's uncle had a '87 GNX that hadn't been started since '92, and was going to give/sell it to her.
 
J

jstang209

20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 3, 2004
640
2
18
Stockton 209
Sep 12, 2004
#3
  • Sep 12, 2004
  • #3
what about cap, wires, and spark plugs those too right
 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,773
17
89
Dallas, GA
Sep 12, 2004
#4
  • Sep 12, 2004
  • #4
jstang209 said:
what about cap, wires, and spark plugs those too right
Click to expand...

Since your due in for a tune-up anyways, it wouldn't be a bad idea.
 
T

t-top 87

New Member
Jul 17, 2004
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0
Sep 12, 2004
#5
  • Sep 12, 2004
  • #5
PVC valve, air filter. Depending on where the car was sitting...you never know what type of critters might have made a nest in the motor.
 

Ray III

New Member
Feb 10, 2004
586
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0
fixin Boomhower's John Deere in Troy, NY
Sep 12, 2004
#6
  • Sep 12, 2004
  • #6
Get under back of car, remove fuel filter, run fuel pump until all old fuel is purged. Fill tank with 5 gallons of fresh fuel, preferably with a fuel system cleaner, install new fuel filter, disconnect high pressure line at engine fuel rail (will need appropriate disconnect tool) and run pump until about 1/2 quart of fuel is run out.

Replace battery and clean terminals.

Drain old engine oil and change filter and fill halfway with new oil. Prime lubrication system. Start engine and bring up to operating temperature, watching in engine bay for obvious problems. Drain oil, fill completely with new oil.

Extract a sample of the coolant in the radiator into a bottle; if you see particles or unnatural color then flush cooling system and refill with new. Otherwise check state of freeze protection with coolant tester and add antifreeze as necessary.

Change transmission fluid and rearend oil.

Check tire condition and air pressure.

Roll the car to break loose the brakes, then drive the car around with the brakes partially applied to shine them up or whatever you are able to do to clean them up. Remove wheels and inspect brake condition. Some pads or shoes will likely need replacement; look closely for lining separation.

Some engine sensors may have gone bad and need replacement, if you notice something funny with the gauges or how the engine runs.
 
J

jstang209

20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 3, 2004
640
2
18
Stockton 209
Sep 29, 2004
#7
  • Sep 29, 2004
  • #7
all the fuses are missing from this car, do i need them just for it to start?
 

Whytry91

New Member
Nov 26, 2002
321
0
0
Morrisville, NC
Sep 29, 2004
#8
  • Sep 29, 2004
  • #8
jstang209 said:
all the fuses are missing from this car, do i need them just for it to start?
Click to expand...

Uh....yeah, The important ones anyways, but since you are in there, you'd might as well, do them all
 

Henceforward

The Avatar Master
Founding Member
Jul 17, 2001
485
0
0
Sep 29, 2004
#9
  • Sep 29, 2004
  • #9
Be sure and pull out the sensor in the coolant bottle, and file off all that white powdery chalky stuff on the terminals.

That way your check coolant light wont come on.
 
9

91notchgt

New Member
Sep 29, 2004
10
0
0
Wading River NY
Sep 29, 2004
#10
  • Sep 29, 2004
  • #10
definatly a tune up......and a good oil change
 
P

POWER302

Founding Member
Nov 30, 1999
427
0
16
IL
Sep 29, 2004
#11
  • Sep 29, 2004
  • #11
90mustangGT said:
All the fluids and the battery. The old fuel has probally become solid. You might want to wiggle the crank back and forth a little to break any deposits that have petrafied.

I looked into this because I was going to marry this girl who's uncle had a '87 GNX that hadn't been started since '92, and was going to give/sell it to her.
Click to expand...


So you didnt marry her? Damn, 87 GNX is the best Turbo buick ever. It would be worth suffering through a bad marriage for.
 

RsStanG1987

I shaved all my pubes playing this game.
10 Year Member
Mar 13, 2004
569
9
79
Dupont PA
Sep 30, 2004
#12
  • Sep 30, 2004
  • #12
What kind of car is it if i may ask? Your probabbly gonna want to change the tires and the belts also they are probabbly dry rotted. The air box for mice etc.. Hoses.
 

nito88stang

Founding Member
May 23, 2002
2,012
0
46
Fullerton, California
Sep 30, 2004
#13
  • Sep 30, 2004
  • #13
Also take a good look at the bushings. Not needed to drive teh car but something that probably would need replacing or greasing.
 

moonenn3186

Founding Member
Jan 9, 2002
233
0
0
Dubuque, Iowa
Sep 30, 2004
#14
  • Sep 30, 2004
  • #14
After changing the fluids I always (from now on) add the "Seal Renew" or "Stop Leak" in the all the fluids they make it for. For instance I drain the tranny, PS, coolant, oil and rear end before startup - then add the stop leak and replace the fluids - then prime the engine (this is after lowering, unhooking and draining the fuel tank and replaing the fuel filter. I have also put some diesel fuel in each cylinder a day or two before I plan to crank it. THis will probably foul the plugs immediatly so I recommed leaving in the old ones for initial fire. After it fires and runs for awhile - replace the plugs and wires.

I have done this the quick way a few times and have always had seal problems otherwise. And I have done a lot of junk yard/farm yard resurections!
 
V

v8only

Active Member
Jul 3, 2003
2,378
22
49
Sep 30, 2004
#15
  • Sep 30, 2004
  • #15
I've fired up cars right off the bat that sat that long.

ideally, you could pull the dist and prime it with a drill, since that engine is pretty dry by now.

my brothers 86 sat for 7 years. expect absolutely everything minor that has any rubber in it to go out. He replaced his radiator, all hoses, p/s pump, all p/s lines, then the trans because the trans seals rotted, real wheel bearings, rear end, crap, everything. (water pump is still good amazingly)Not to scare you, but a car usually sits because it's been neglected for a while, so expect a project for about a year after you get it running for stuff to stop breaking.
 

giddyup306

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
3,041
2
59
Sep 30, 2004
#16
  • Sep 30, 2004
  • #16
You may want to run a very small amount of diesel fuel through your engine with a full tank (only a few ounces). This will clean up some dirt, glick, and yuckity puck that has accumulated over the years. All of your fuel additives designed for cleaning are nothing more than "petrolium distilates".
 
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