C3 sitting for ten years

[Ralph S.]

I have a 1970 LT-1 & 1969 L71 that have been parked in a dry garage for 10 years. What would you do to start them after sitting so long.

[Dick W.]

Re: C3 sitting for ten years

Drain the fuel tanks. Remove all the spark plugs and squirt a little Marvel Mystery Oil in the cylinders. Let them sit for a few days before reinstalling the plugs. I would check the fuel tank for leaks after pouring just a couple of gallons in them. Watch any flexible fuel line for leaks. Probably an excercise in futility, but flush the brake system with clean fluid. The calipers probably will leak like a sieve. Change coolant. Watch out for leaks at water pump.

Just a few things to get started. Ralph, ya shoulda driven those cars all these years. Probably haven't been started since Terry, Reba, and I came to your house. Shame on you.

[Dennis A.]

Re: C3 sitting for ten years

Ralph...

After following /Dick's post, Check the battery and Treat the engine as you would starting up a new engine...Pull the distributor and prime the oil pressure with a drill and distributor extension is a must. I would also pre-fill the carbutetor (John Hinkley wrote a tech article on this that made a lot of scents). be prepared to reset the timing after a good twenty minute burn in.
also: have the garage door open with a extinguisher near by.
Sounds like it will be an exciting day to fire up after ten years!

[Patrick H.]

Re: C3 sitting for ten years

My 72 sat for about 10 years before the previous owner purchased it. Believe it or not, the calipers did not leak and the car was very driveable. We did have the calipers resleeved (all the originals!) as one of the first things we did to be assurred it would be road worthy and reliable.

The tires will also be hard as a rock and ride horribly. You'll want new ones.

Patrick

[Dave F.]

Re: C3 sitting for ten years

All great points made by the others! I'd be wary of all belts and hoses, including brake flex hoses! Stopping can be tricky after all those years!! Plus take a look at all of the electrical ground strap connections for corrosion. Let us all know how it goes and what, if any, problems that you did find.

[Roger Legge]

Re: C3 sitting for ten years

I would replace every section of flexible/rubber fuel line. Besides being old, modern gas has additives that eat away at old spec fuel line.

Roger