1972 Vette
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
1) Charge or change the battery.
2) Put new plugs, wires caps and rotors.
3) Change the engine and transmission fluid.
4) Change the coolant.
5) It's also advisable to change the brake, power steering, diff fluids (you can do this after you get it to start).
I am assuming that -
1) Your car was really been sitting only for 2 years.
2) there are no mechanical drivability issues.
Good luck and welcome to the right place
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,293
Likes: 6
From: North of the Bay California
hijack on
Raj, go check the menu for the 18th and send the link to Travis. make sure Don gets your lunch order
hijack off
to the OP. Congratulations, you have the best year of all vettes good luck with the new car.
Raj, go check the menu for the 18th and send the link to Travis. make sure Don gets your lunch order
hijack off
to the OP. Congratulations, you have the best year of all vettes
good luck with the new car.Here are the very common things that you may need to do before starting the car.
1) Charge or change the battery.
2) Put new plugs, wires caps and rotors.
3) Change the engine and transmission fluid.
4) Change the coolant.
5) It's also advisable to change the brake, power steering, diff fluids (you can do this after you get it to start).
I am assuming that -
1) Your car was really been sitting only for 2 years.
2) there are no mechanical drivability issues.
Good luck and welcome to the right place
1) Charge or change the battery.
2) Put new plugs, wires caps and rotors.
3) Change the engine and transmission fluid.
4) Change the coolant.
5) It's also advisable to change the brake, power steering, diff fluids (you can do this after you get it to start).
I am assuming that -
1) Your car was really been sitting only for 2 years.
2) there are no mechanical drivability issues.
Good luck and welcome to the right place
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
From: sellersville pa
mine was off the road for many years, do yourself a favor change the rear gear lube and 2 cans of posi additive (gm). and check the pinon bushing and motor mounts. i had broken dry rotted motor and tranny mounts. also change the fuel and make sure you have no rubber fuel lines under the hood. oh and 72 is the best year, good luck
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
Dude.. you are in the wrong movie.
(sure will take care of the lunch order.)
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Here are the very common things that you may need to do before starting the car.
1) Charge or change the battery.
2) Put new plugs, wires caps and rotors.
3) Change the engine and transmission fluid.
4) Change the coolant.
5) It's also advisable to change the brake, power steering, diff fluids (you can do this after you get it to start).
I am assuming that -
1) Your car was really been sitting only for 2 years.
2) there are no mechanical drivability issues.
Good luck and welcome to the right place
1) Charge or change the battery.
2) Put new plugs, wires caps and rotors.
3) Change the engine and transmission fluid.
4) Change the coolant.
5) It's also advisable to change the brake, power steering, diff fluids (you can do this after you get it to start).
I am assuming that -
1) Your car was really been sitting only for 2 years.
2) there are no mechanical drivability issues.
Good luck and welcome to the right place
1) Charge or change the battery.-YES
2) Put new plugs, wires, cap, and rotor.- JUST MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. I WOULD HEAR IT RUN BEFORE I SPENT MONEY ON A TUNEUP.
3) Change the engine and transmission fluid. I WOULD CHANGE THE OIL AND FILTER, LEAVE THE TRANS ALONE
4) Change the coolant. YES, AND INSPECT THE HOSES.
5) It's also advisable to change the brake, power steering, diff fluids I MIGHT CHANGE THE BRAKE FLUID AFTER IT RAN, BUT CALIPERS MAY NEED WORK ANYWAY. P/S AND DIFF ARE OK IMHO.
6) AS ABOVE, REMOVE AS MUCH FUEL AS POSSIBLE AND PUT IN FRESH. CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER.
7) FIRST TIME, PULL THE DISTRIBUTOR AND PRIME THE OIL SYSTEM OR AT LEAST PULL THE PLUGS, A LITTLE OIL IN EACH CYLINDER, AND SPIN THE MOTOR WITH THE COIL WIRE PULLED-OR BOTH.
8) WATCH FOR FUEL AND COOLANT LEAKS.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,136
Likes: 62
From: West Kingston RI
For a car that only sat 2 years I think some of that might be a bit overboard. My advice, IN ALL CAPS for what it's worth.
1) Charge or change the battery.-YES
2) Put new plugs, wires, cap, and rotor.- JUST MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. I WOULD HEAR IT RUN BEFORE I SPENT MONEY ON A TUNEUP.
3) Change the engine and transmission fluid. I WOULD CHANGE THE OIL AND FILTER, LEAVE THE TRANS ALONE
4) Change the coolant. YES, AND INSPECT THE HOSES.
5) It's also advisable to change the brake, power steering, diff fluids I MIGHT CHANGE THE BRAKE FLUID AFTER IT RAN, BUT CALIPERS MAY NEED WORK ANYWAY. P/S AND DIFF ARE OK IMHO.
6) AS ABOVE, REMOVE AS MUCH FUEL AS POSSIBLE AND PUT IN FRESH. CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER.
7) FIRST TIME, PULL THE DISTRIBUTOR AND PRIME THE OIL SYSTEM OR AT LEAST PULL THE PLUGS, A LITTLE OIL IN EACH CYLINDER, AND SPIN THE MOTOR WITH THE COIL WIRE PULLED-OR BOTH.
8) WATCH FOR FUEL AND COOLANT LEAKS.
1) Charge or change the battery.-YES
2) Put new plugs, wires, cap, and rotor.- JUST MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. I WOULD HEAR IT RUN BEFORE I SPENT MONEY ON A TUNEUP.
3) Change the engine and transmission fluid. I WOULD CHANGE THE OIL AND FILTER, LEAVE THE TRANS ALONE
4) Change the coolant. YES, AND INSPECT THE HOSES.
5) It's also advisable to change the brake, power steering, diff fluids I MIGHT CHANGE THE BRAKE FLUID AFTER IT RAN, BUT CALIPERS MAY NEED WORK ANYWAY. P/S AND DIFF ARE OK IMHO.
6) AS ABOVE, REMOVE AS MUCH FUEL AS POSSIBLE AND PUT IN FRESH. CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER.
7) FIRST TIME, PULL THE DISTRIBUTOR AND PRIME THE OIL SYSTEM OR AT LEAST PULL THE PLUGS, A LITTLE OIL IN EACH CYLINDER, AND SPIN THE MOTOR WITH THE COIL WIRE PULLED-OR BOTH.
8) WATCH FOR FUEL AND COOLANT LEAKS.
Good luck with the new ride and welcome aboard. Once you get it running do yourself a favor and go over all safety items, if not before you get it running. It's to tempting top get it running and say ok I'm all set and go out for a short ride. Check for leaks at the clipers and along the brake lines. Check your front and rear suspension, ball joints tie rod ends etc. And most of all enjoy.
8th Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
If whoever stored the car was reasonably thinking the fuel may have been stabilized. Use your nose, if it smells varnishy drain it, if it smells normal top it off with some premium grade fuel and add about 8 oz of Marvells Mystery Oil to the fuel tank. The Marvels is an upper end lubricant which will assist in the valve train lube. Charge or replace the battery check all your fluid levels and see if she will fire off. If the car was in good running condition when stored you might be pleasently surprised. Everyones input so far has merit and reflects best practices, but see what you got before throwing money at it. Good Luck, 72 is a great year
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
I must have missed this while reading the posts above... First thing I would do is check the oil and try to start the car and see how it runs. Then, the very next thing I would do is change the oil. Changing the oil is the one maintenance item that is recommended more frequently than 2 years. I got a new battery first thing when I got my vette because old one was dead, but all that other stuff I did over time, but yes, got to all of it.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
