67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

[David K.]

Any input / suggestions from my fellow NCRS members will be greatly appreciated.

BTW I am aware I may need to address the brake calipers, carburetor, as well as other issues when the time comes.

Regards
Dave (23277)

[Edward J.]

[Leo G.]

Re: 67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

My son and I bought a 70 coupe several years ago that had been sitting in a garage much like yours in northeast Ohio since 1980. He squirted marvel myst wry oil in the cylinders and let it sit a week. Turned the engine over by hand the following weekend. Put a battery in it and filled the carb with gas . She lit right up, he drove it around the yard. Of course it neede overhauling but the resilience of the small block is something to behold. Good luck whatever you do..

Leo

[David K.]

Re: 67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

Hi Edward
Thank you for the reply.
How much antifreeze would I need to drain, as a precaution, to reach a level below the head gasket? (1 gallon?)
Would draining ALL the antifreeze have any negative consequences to the internal water jacket, radiator, overflow tank...etc....if it sat longer?

[Mark E.]

Re: 67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

David,

You'll find several threads on the topic with good advice by searching in this TDB. I've had to prep several engines after years in storage. Here's what's worked well for me: Prior to starting (after you fixed/replaced the timing set)-

- Remove spark plugs; squirt some engine oil into each cylinder. I haven't used other lubricants but I figure engine oil is designed to lubricate the cylinder walls.

- Change the oil and filter without starting the engine.

- After a few hours or a day, remove the distributor, install an engine primer (a junk distributor works well), and spin the primer with a HD drill for at least 5 minutes. If you have the valve covers removed, prime until all the rockers are passing oil.

- Manually turn the crank 90 degrees; repeat above step. Do this for two revolutions of the crank.

- Reassemble everything and get the engine ready to start (fully charged battery, fresh fuel in tank, fuel in carburetor bowl, ignition timing statically set, coolant checked...).

- Start engine and be ready to look for leaks, adjust timing and carburetor as needed.

This process prevents a dry engine start and provides instant oil pressure. There are a few YouTube videos out there showing this process.

If the car was stored in a garage with the air cleaner in place and PCV system intact, cylinder wall oxidation shouldn't be an issue.

Regarding the brakes: Pressing on the brake pedal once a week while the car is idle will help keep the caliper seals in good shape. Change the brake fluid if over a year old.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

the marine industry has a number of products by different mfgs. just for this purpose . Go to any marine store and you should see just what your looking for . Hope this helps Jeff

[Owen L.]

Re: 67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

Assuming the above works with no issues should I then follow up by squirting motor oil into the cylinders and hand turn the crank a few more times?

4 years isn't that long for an engine in storage. Pull all the spark plugs and squirt engine oil (or Marvel Mystery, as a lot of folks swear by it) to the far side of each piston so that it flows to the low side. Give each cylinder a squirt, rotate a full rev on the crankshaft, squirt again, rotate again, replace all the plugs. Maybe do this once a year but don't put in so much oil that you risk fluid compression issues on restart.

BTW, just today I refired my '67 after a timing chain replacement beginning a month or so ago. First time doing the job and it wasn't too challenging. There was more effort repainting components than the actual removal and replacement of the timing set.

[Tom M.]

Re: 67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

Other things to think about when letting he Corvette sit.
Clutch - in humid areas they are known to have flash rust glue the clutch together. It happens to me if the car sits for a couple of months during a very humid summer.
Brakes - they just dont like to sit for long periods.

[David K.]

Re: 67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

Hi Owen
I thank you and the others who have replied!
Can you give me an idea as to the amount of a squirt of oil?
Are we talking like approx. a 1/2 teaspoon, teaspoon, tablespoon...etc.
I understand I don't want to overdo it but also not put to little in.
I'm thinking I can take my oil can that has a squeeze type trigger, put a small rubber hose extension over the tip, and push the hose to the far side of the cylinder. If I pre measure a squirt I could then be somewhat precise.
Your input is greatly appreciated.
Regards
Dave

[Patrick H.]

Re: 67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

4 years isn't that long for an engine in storage.

Agreed.

I would just charge the battery and start it. That's what I did with the last one that sat 4 years.
If you ever look, oil clings to the sides of the cylinder walls, and after 4 years they're likely fine unless you live on the salty coast of FL.

[Edward J.]

Re: 67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

Agreed.

I would just charge the battery and start it. That's what I did with the last one that sat 4 years.
If you ever look, oil clings to the sides of the cylinder walls, and after 4 years they're likely fine unless you live on the salty coast of FL.

[William F.]

Re: 67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

If your timing chain failed and "jumped timing" you may have serious problems such as bent valves or holes in pistons. would check before thinking about getting ready to start.

[Edward J.]

Re: 67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

William, small block or big blocks are not a interference engine when chains fail.

[Owen L.]

Re: 67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

Can you give me an idea as to the amount of a squirt of oil?
Are we talking like approx. a 1/2 teaspoon, teaspoon, tablespoon...etc.

Oil is a material that coats well with a small amount, so just a squirt or two from your oil can is plenty. I've no idea the volume of that but I'd guess a teaspoon. Your storage environment sounds pretty well controlled so I wouldn't stress too much about it. If you really want to get anal with it, I suppose you could set up a schedule of rotating the crank at quarter-turn intervals so that all of the cylinders get some bit of variance in piston placement and exposure to open valves... but that would be obsessively over-thinking it!

[David K.]

Re: 67 L-79 been sitting for 4+ years...need some motor advice

Hi Owen
You mentioned you did the timing chain / gears on your 67.
Did you need to remove the grill or hood to get in and around more easily?
Mine is L79 327.
NO LIFT i'll have it up on jack stands.
Your reply and others have been great....I thank everyone.
Regards
Dave