Taking Car Out of Extended Storage

[Steven B.]

I have a friend who is taking his inherited car out of storage after seven years. it has an L-48 350 and Turbo Hydro 350. Besides replacing fluids, filters and battery what else should they do (I will likely be called to help) before starting the engine? It was parked in his uncle's garage, covered, with old fluids.

Thanks!

[Ray G.]

Re: Taking Car Out of Extended Storage

Hello;
After oil change.
BEFORE trying to start.
Pull the distributor and turn the oil pump w/ an electric drill holder.
Build oil pressure and hold it for 3-4 minutes.
Remove spark plugs, inspect for condition and possible fouling.
Inject 3 in 1 oil into the spark plug openings.
Remove gas line from carb, check filter, if so equipped. Drain fuel tank and install clean gas. Before reinstall gas line on carb. put slight pressure on the fuel tank at the filler. This can be done by installing a piece of gas hose in the opening, fill the rest by stuffing a large towel in the opening.
Apply 3-4#s air pressure. There should be fuel at the gas line to the carb.
While reinstalling the distributor, before tightening the hold down, turn the dist. with the ignition key ON. and check for spark at the coil.(be sure you have good ventilation and all gas fumes are gone.
Remove primary wire from dist. and attempt to turn the engine over.
If it turns over reinstall spark plugs and assemble engine to running condition.
Check cooling system.
Attempt starting.
Not knowing your skill level I may have covered items of which you are aware.
I mean no disrespect.
I'll be happy to speak to you about this before hand. Email through this site.
Hope this helps.
Ray

[Steven B.]

Re: Taking Car Out of Extended Storage

Thanks Ray! I have a question of the gas tank bladder: How is the best way to clean the tank? Drain and wipe out with a cloth/towel?

Thanks!

Steve

[Ray G.]

Re: Taking Car Out of Extended Storage

Hello;
Siphon the gas from the tank. There are bulb type siphon hoses available at most chain stores. Put a nut on the end of the siphon hose to hold at the bottom of the gas tank. (Usually a 7/16 x 14 nut fit tightly on the hose) If you jack one side of the car up the gas will flow to the opposite corner allowing you to remove most of the gas. Never put cloth or fiberous material in the tank to clean. Fibers in the tank will get to the carb. Just removing the stale gas should be sufficient, unless there are hard deposits or rust in the tank. If the car has been stored in a humid area there may be rust inside the tank. Removal of any rust or deposits is crucial.
If that is the case you can run the car off of a separate gas can until the tank is repaired. Run a fuel hose through a in line gas filter directly to the fuel pump "in" port.
Gas tanks can be cleaned and lined w/ a product used to line airplane fuel tanks.
Ray

[David D.]

Re: Taking Car Out of Extended Storage

After engine is started with new 'regular' oil and filter, I'd throw some crankcase gunk cleaner in oil and to let it get all the nasties loosened and out. Then change Oil and filter again. (Use Rotella or equivalent with Zinc - search for previous discussions)

If everything goes correctly with Engine start I'm sure there will be a NEED for a test run....

I'd also recommend checking ALL rubber lines (i.e brake, fuel etc..) as well as belts.

Check brake fluid level as well as for possible rust etc in Master Cylinder. I'd personally recommend a complete drain and flush to ensure fluid is good, especially being it was parked so long and more than likely was not DOT5.

Check tranny and rear for fluid levels....(Power Steering if so equiped)

Check all lights especially brake.

Let us know how all comes out.
David

[Steven B.]

Re: Taking Car Out of Extended Storage

Thanks guys for the info.! I got a call this morning asking if I oculd help this weekend! I have used the bulb and hose before but I never thought to use a weight at the end of the hose. Proves a point my wife made. No wonder I had a hard time keeping it at the bottom of the tank!

Has anyone used Marvel Mystery Oil to "free things up" during a restart?

[David D.]

Re: Taking Car Out of Extended Storage

Has anyone used Marvel Mystery Oil to "free things up" during a restart?

Steve,
I have and I know of some others that have as well. We let it sit for a couple days, then manually turned engine over couple times with wrench. Let sit for a couple more days and then fired it up. While sitting we took care of all the other stuff mentioned.....

You might be able to let it sit over night if in a big hurry. Otherwise I'd let it work some.
David

[Grant M.]

Re: Taking Car Out of Extended Storage

I have used Marvel Mystery Oil for pre-winter storage prep in the past, following someone's (I can't recall whose at this time) recommendation on this board from a number of years ago. The suggestion was to pour the oil slowly down the carb throat at fast idle, increasing the pour rate to eventually stall the motor. Then remove the plugs and squirt a bit into each cylinder and replace the plugs afterwards.

You want to do your spring start-up late at night, because the amount of smoke and smell created is incredible! I used to live close to a highway leading out of town, so I'd start it up and head out to allow revs/highway operating temperatures help clean out the oil. It usually didn't take more than a few minutes/miles. I don't use the Marvel approach anymore as I have a 1 mile loop in my neighbourhood which gets bare and dry often during the winter so I simply make a few circuits to keep things lubricated and loosened-up.

[Dick W.]

Re: Taking Car Out of Extended Storage

I like to squirt a little Marvel Mystery oil in the cylinders, turn the engine a couple of rounds by hand, and then let set for at least a couple of days. Once you do start the engine do drive it too hard for a few miles. I have seen piston rings stick if you are too aggressive initally.