85 not run for 7 years
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Tustin Ca
85 not run for 7 years
Good Afternoon Everyone.
I am new to this forum. I have been asked to help get this 85 running, it was owned by a guy who passed away over 3 years ago, and it sat in the driveway for about 7 years with out being started or even rolled. I know I need to drain all fluids. engine oil, filter, trans fluid and filter, coolant, and re-end oil, and even the gas tank, my question is how hard is taking it down. Have taken down gas tanks on full size trucks before but never a Corvette, I would guess I need to get as much of the old gas out as possible, also, not ever working on one before, is the fuel pump in the tank like most Chevy's, and should replace fuel pump and sender to play it safe ? Anything else should I look for before starting, I know it will need new battery and 4 new tires. I was a nice 85, as the guy had his own Corvette shop years ago, and it has the 93 nose, and tail, and shark gills, and mods to the motor and ECM.
Thanks in advance for your help
I am new to this forum. I have been asked to help get this 85 running, it was owned by a guy who passed away over 3 years ago, and it sat in the driveway for about 7 years with out being started or even rolled. I know I need to drain all fluids. engine oil, filter, trans fluid and filter, coolant, and re-end oil, and even the gas tank, my question is how hard is taking it down. Have taken down gas tanks on full size trucks before but never a Corvette, I would guess I need to get as much of the old gas out as possible, also, not ever working on one before, is the fuel pump in the tank like most Chevy's, and should replace fuel pump and sender to play it safe ? Anything else should I look for before starting, I know it will need new battery and 4 new tires. I was a nice 85, as the guy had his own Corvette shop years ago, and it has the 93 nose, and tail, and shark gills, and mods to the motor and ECM.
Thanks in advance for your help
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 2
From: California City Ca
Mine sat for 7 years also when I got it I changed the fuilds I removed the fuel filler neck and used a hose to drain the tank also lets you see inside the tank just in case theres junk inside.
Also you can dump 2 or 3 gallons of new gas and drain it the same way easy.
Put a couple more gallons of new gas in to the car and new filter remove the fuel line at the injector rail before you turn the key to prime the system to get rid all of the bad old gas out all the fuel lines before you fire it for the first time.
I also made sure the old oil looked good and ran it with the old oil for a couple minute before I put new oil in the cat just to make sure it would run.
No reason to put new oil in it if the motor shot.
Just make sure it dont knock and sounds like it need to be pulled I not saying drive it with old oil just to see if it runs.
Same with the trans and the rear diff make sure they work before you fork out the cash.
Dont forget about the power steering Fluid and brake fluid change.
I also changed out the brake rottors mine were very rusty.
Also you can dump 2 or 3 gallons of new gas and drain it the same way easy.
Put a couple more gallons of new gas in to the car and new filter remove the fuel line at the injector rail before you turn the key to prime the system to get rid all of the bad old gas out all the fuel lines before you fire it for the first time.
I also made sure the old oil looked good and ran it with the old oil for a couple minute before I put new oil in the cat just to make sure it would run.
No reason to put new oil in it if the motor shot.
Just make sure it dont knock and sounds like it need to be pulled I not saying drive it with old oil just to see if it runs.
Same with the trans and the rear diff make sure they work before you fork out the cash.
Dont forget about the power steering Fluid and brake fluid change.
I also changed out the brake rottors mine were very rusty.
Last edited by Marv02; Feb 4, 2011 at 09:31 PM.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Tustin Ca
Thanks, thats some good advice, I will do that, the last time it ran was when the owner took it to his work where they were taking pictures of their vetts, at the time he worked for fabtech, and a bunch of guys had vetts, at that time it had not run for about 5 years, he spent the weekend working on it to get to to run. It only rain that day to make it for picture day and has sit since. He passed away over 3 years ago and his ex, the mother of his son, wants to fix it now, I know the interment cluster does not work also, so I will be blind on oil pressure and temp, but think I can find a way to monitor them during start up, she does not have a lot of cash, so I said I would do the work, fun project I hope for my son, and her son to help with, been family friend for years. sad that this vett has set so long in the driveway, it was one of the nicest vetts in it time, would always get looks, and had way to much house power, he took some of the best parts over the years to make it better, has different year head light motors, different year window motors, and I know different year parts under hood. and I think even break parts, so may be fun to figure out what they have if they need to be replaced.
thanks for the input and advice
thanks for the input and advice
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Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 506
Likes: 12
From: Savannah GA
Pull back the filler neck boot, there is a bolt on plate. The pump and sending unit come out the filler neck on a vette. Then you can pump out the tank and see if it's got trash in it. If it's real bad the tank has straps like most cars. A used clean tank might be better than trying to clean it if it's real bad. People are parting out C4's often now.
JS
JS
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 308
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City MO
Pull the fuel filter, put a hose into a bucket from the line, then just jumper the fuel pump relay and let it pump the gas out until it runs dry (but watch it - don't let the pump run on and on dry or it'll burn up)
Since you've got NO gauges - pull the factory senders for the oil press and water temp and hook up a CHEAP gauge set (Harbor Freight $18 set of 3 quality even) - just to have something there to monitor the engine to get it running.
Since you've got NO gauges - pull the factory senders for the oil press and water temp and hook up a CHEAP gauge set (Harbor Freight $18 set of 3 quality even) - just to have something there to monitor the engine to get it running.
