'78 has been sitting....
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 63
Likes: 8
'78 has been sitting....
for about 2.5 years now.
I hate it, but it had to take a back seat to life for a bit.
It was never supposed to sit this long, so I didn't take the correct measures to store it.
And when I say that it's been sitting, I mean that it hasn't even been started during that time.
It truly pains me, but like I said, life sometimes gets in the way.
I've been told the basics are:
Siphon out the old gas
Change the oil
Flush the breaks
T
My questions are--
Do I just siphon out the old gas or do I need to drop it?
Any other advice for this guy? It's going to get warm here in KC soon and I need to drive my baby!
I hate it, but it had to take a back seat to life for a bit.
It was never supposed to sit this long, so I didn't take the correct measures to store it.
And when I say that it's been sitting, I mean that it hasn't even been started during that time.
It truly pains me, but like I said, life sometimes gets in the way.
I've been told the basics are:
Siphon out the old gas
Change the oil
Flush the breaks
T
My questions are--
Do I just siphon out the old gas or do I need to drop it?
Any other advice for this guy? It's going to get warm here in KC soon and I need to drive my baby!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 3,126
Likes: 15
Siphon as much as you can and refill with about 5gal. of new. Change oil and filter. Then try it. This is just to get it running. See what else needs attention after a slow ck. out drive around the neighborhood. Then do brakes, belts, hoses or whatever else. mike...
Last edited by mds3013; Feb 13, 2011 at 04:53 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
I'd change the coolent also. If the brake fluid looks low in the master cylinder get under the car and look for leaking calipers before attempting to drive the car.
The e-brakes can sieze up from sitting also, so make sure the car rolls freely.
Rick B.
The e-brakes can sieze up from sitting also, so make sure the car rolls freely.
Rick B.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
To be honest 2.5 years is not a terribly long time for any major problems assuming that everything was in pretty decent shape before the storage. I am not so sure that I would siphon the gas after that period of time but it certainly couldn't hurt if you are so inclined. You might try some dry gas and run the gas out of the car-it will probably run fine. The oil and filter are a definite simply because conventional oils really should not be in the crankcase for more than a year. Changing the brake fluid and checking for leaks is prudent but again you are probably going to be fine on that front too if the brake fluid was changed in the recent past before the storage. As for belts and hoses, I have gone 10 years on those items with no issues, driving in the summer months only. I have also gone 4-5 years on the coolant with zero issues with cooling or radiator deterioration (25 years old and looked just about perfect internally when I changed it recently to a Dewitts).
Basically, I think that you will be rather surprised at how well everything holds up for a couple of years-more if stored in doors. Just my experience with my C3 after 27 years.
Basically, I think that you will be rather surprised at how well everything holds up for a couple of years-more if stored in doors. Just my experience with my C3 after 27 years.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,208
Likes: 64
From: Bocabec, New Brunswick
To be honest 2.5 years is not a terribly long time for any major problems assuming that everything was in pretty decent shape before the storage. I am not so sure that I would siphon the gas after that period of time but it certainly couldn't hurt if you are so inclined. You might try some dry gas and run the gas out of the car-it will probably run fine. The oil and filter are a definite simply because conventional oils really should not be in the crankcase for more than a year. Changing the brake fluid and checking for leaks is prudent but again you are probably going to be fine on that front too if the brake fluid was changed in the recent past before the storage. As for belts and hoses, I have gone 10 years on those items with no issues, driving in the summer months only. I have also gone 4-5 years on the coolant with zero issues with cooling or radiator deterioration (25 years old and looked just about perfect internally when I changed it recently to a Dewitts).
Basically, I think that you will be rather surprised at how well everything holds up for a couple of years-more if stored in doors. Just my experience with my C3 after 27 years.
Basically, I think that you will be rather surprised at how well everything holds up for a couple of years-more if stored in doors. Just my experience with my C3 after 27 years.
My '78 sat for longer than that and fired right up on what gas was left in the tank and what I poured in from the lawn mower gas can.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 63
Likes: 8
Thanks everyone for the info!
I think I'll try JB78's idea, but I have one question.
My car was not stored in the best of situations. I wasn't exactly out in the open, but it was not in a controlled environment either.
I was truly exposed to the Kansas winter for 2 seasons. Cold had hell!
Still ok to try some dry gas and fire it up?
I think I'll try JB78's idea, but I have one question.
My car was not stored in the best of situations. I wasn't exactly out in the open, but it was not in a controlled environment either.
I was truly exposed to the Kansas winter for 2 seasons. Cold had hell!
Still ok to try some dry gas and fire it up?
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 241
Likes: 1
From: Axton va
this cheap gas we have now days might have caused a little varnish in the carb.might have to pull the carb and give it a cleaning so the jets and accelerator pump are not gummed up.
i have had this happen just sitting over the winter with out the stabil in the fuel
i have had this happen just sitting over the winter with out the stabil in the fuel
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