1981 vette sitting 16 yrs
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
1981 vette sitting 16 yrs
Hi guys, I just came upon a 1981 corvette automatic and it has been sitting for 16 years. I got it for a great price and everything is great with it. The only reason why he let it sit was because the brake booster went out. He just left it with gas in the tank and everything still sitting. I was want some opinions on what all I should do to it. The interior is in perfect condition and the paint is great. It all engine work that needs done and I wanted to see what you guys would recommend. Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,249
Likes: 221
From: Dryden MI
Gas tank will have to be cleaned, flush the fuel lines, change all fluids and filters. Remove spark plugs and spray oil into the cylinders, let it sit, possibly do it a few times. Rebuild carburetor. Check all your wires, vacuum lines and hoses for mice damage and brittle insulation. Brittle or stiff hoses should be replaced. Remove distributor after changing oil and filter and prelude the engine, with plugs out, try to rotate engine, hopefully it isn’t seized. Put everything back together and hope it starts. Fluids, clean fuel system, filters and prelubing engine are musts. Pictures, worthless without pictures. You will probably have to change all of your brake calipers. Check all of your suspension and rubber components. Replace tires before you drive it. They too are dangerous. When you buy new tires, make sure the date code is recent, as tires 5-6 years old are worn out.
Last edited by Cooter Tech; Mar 8, 2018 at 06:02 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 146
Likes: 6
From: Mississippi
Cooter advice is spot on. Start with the gas tank. Remove sending unit cover and drain all gas. Examine inside with a good flash light. Hard plastic tank on inside so should be fine but need cleaning. Replace sending unit if needed. (I would). Check your rubber hoses coming off sending unit and relace. Then move to other gas components. See my cleaning gas tank thread in progress.
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,865
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Dante, congrats on the new Corvette and welcome to the forum. Sounds like you got a winner there. 
You really need to share some pictures here of your new find.
(we're all about pics!)
Greg
You really need to share some pictures here of your new find.
(we're all about pics!)
Greg
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 35
Likes: 3
From: SC
When we got our '81 barn find, the calipers were locked tight along with everything Cooter mentioned for you to look at. It's the gremlins and "bubba builds" you'll find, that will make you loose sleep trying to figure out how to fix.
We've pretty much done all we can and have stopped major fixes as the next phase of them would cost more than the car is worth or we're willing to pay out. Ours drives and looks great to us as a barn find, with the blemishes' showing it's age as a classic. So be sure to make it safe and enjoy your Corvette on the open road.
We've pretty much done all we can and have stopped major fixes as the next phase of them would cost more than the car is worth or we're willing to pay out. Ours drives and looks great to us as a barn find, with the blemishes' showing it's age as a classic. So be sure to make it safe and enjoy your Corvette on the open road.
Last edited by drinkoj; Mar 9, 2018 at 02:53 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,249
Likes: 221
From: Dryden MI
Wow, slam the door on someone volunteering to help, not very nice. You will at some point need more information on your car, and 90 percent of the people on this forum know more about your car than your oreily sell parts buddies.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
Wow, getting upset because I didn't want to bother a stranger that was being helpful and i was grateful for it. That's rude man. I came here for information. Not for a mechanic to come look at it. I'm not looking for an issue here. And it's not my oreilly buddies doing the work. It's me and the advice of others. So don't go off the handle thinking Im the one being rude when you are. Thank you for the advice earlier and i sincerely mean that.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,960
Likes: 4,516
From: Virginia
Before you do anything else, you should take some more pictures. How did you get it home?
You can probably get most of what you need at O'Reilly's, at least to get it on the road. New (rebuilt) brake calipers and hoses, all new fluids, and replace anything rubber under the hood. Work your way outward from the carb/intake manifold as you replace the vacuum lines.
Good luck!
You can probably get most of what you need at O'Reilly's, at least to get it on the road. New (rebuilt) brake calipers and hoses, all new fluids, and replace anything rubber under the hood. Work your way outward from the carb/intake manifold as you replace the vacuum lines.
Good luck!
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
Before you do anything else, you should take some more pictures. How did you get it home?
You can probably get most of what you need at O'Reilly's, at least to get it on the road. New (rebuilt) brake calipers and hoses, all new fluids, and replace anything rubber under the hood. Work your way outward from the carb/intake manifold as you replace the vacuum lines.
Good luck!
You can probably get most of what you need at O'Reilly's, at least to get it on the road. New (rebuilt) brake calipers and hoses, all new fluids, and replace anything rubber under the hood. Work your way outward from the carb/intake manifold as you replace the vacuum lines.
Good luck!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,249
Likes: 221
From: Dryden MI
Wow, getting upset because I didn't want to bother a stranger that was being helpful and i was grateful for it. That's rude man. I came here for information. Not for a mechanic to come look at it. I'm not looking for an issue here. And it's not my oreilly buddies doing the work. It's me and the advice of others. So don't go off the handle thinking Im the one being rude when you are. Thank you for the advice earlier and i sincerely mean that.