how do you start a parked engine?

[thdgechargerguy]

i have a 73 plymouth duster that was running when it was parked and its been parked for 15 years. i need to know what i could do to try and get it to turn over, things to look for to see if i could start it. any advice will help,

thanks

[84tecate]

Wow, 15 years thats a long time, I would replace the belts and what not, clean the carb, check all your gaskets and what not. Inspect the timing chain, plug wires possibly rebuild the distributer, change all fluids (I hope you didnt leave fluids sitting that long in the motor and gas tank), Buy 110 octane race gas and prime the carb with it, you will want to check your electrical connections. So basically check everthing on the motor. I have a feeling you will end up having to replace the majoritie of the seals on the motor.Replace radiator hoses, probably the charging system, the list is huge.

[Oldcar_Mechanic]

Pull all the plugs and inject some Marvel Oil or trans fluid in all the cylinders. Disconnect the fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump ( this is so that you will not draw any fuel that may be in the tank because it will be bad and full of sediment). Clean the connections on the battery and be sure that it is fully charged. make sure that there is plenty of oil in the engine. Crank the engine in small spurts so as to start the lubrication process. After a while you will be able to crank the engine for longer period of time. Once you see that the engine will crank fine, you could try to connect a remote fuel tank to the pump, install the plugs and see if it will fire up. If it does, only let it run for a very short time. There are many more things that need to be checked over before you run this for any length of time without dissaster. This is only a starting place. A vehicle that sits for that long a period of time needs to be checked thoroughly before any lengthy running of the engine or driving of the car.

If you need any further help, feel free to e-mail me and I will be happy to go through the process with you one step at a time.

Ron

[Lancer770]

Most of the advice above is good. A couple of extra steps for you would be as follows.
After taking out the plugs and lubricating each cylinder take a long breaker bar and appropriate size socket to the nut on the crank pulley and turn the motor by hand for a few revs. due this with out reinstalling the plugs so you won't have resistance from compression in the cylinders. Drain out the radiator and block of all coolant and pull that ancient thermostat. After 15 years you know its stuck. If or I should say when you get it running don't forget to check all of your brake components. After that length of time you probably have pitted master and wheel cylinders. Also check the brake lines if they're not stainless chances are they're rusted through in several places.
I know what you're going through, I'm going through the same process with a 61 Lancer I just got. Just go slow and think through each step and try to anticipate problems, thjs is a process where a little thought and common sence come in very handy. (A good service manual doesn't hurt to have handy either.)

Nick W.

[71challengeme]

I'm in the middle of a very similar project; I just purchased a 1971 Dodge Challenger that has been sitting since 1986 (19 years). The car belonged to an old high-school friend of mine and I was told it ran great when they parked it.....19 years ago.
I trailered it home, power washed it, and found that the engine bay was 100% full of leaves and rats nest, etc...
However it did clean up nicely, and this is what I found.
1.) Every spark plug wire has been chewed in half by rats (you can see the teeth marks).
2.) Both heater hoses are gnawed in half
3.) Several of the electrical wires are missing the insulation (rats)
4.) The starter was locked up tight as a drumb

---
I went down to NAPA and purchased 3 bottles of Marvel Mystery Oil
Plug Wires
Spark Plugs
Dist Cap
Points
Starter
Engine Degreaser (Easy-Off Oven Cleaner works much better, but really burns if it gets on your skin)
----
I pulled all plugs but haven't filled cylinder will M-M-oil yet...Doing that tomorrow

After a day of soaking, I'll install the starter and see if she'll turn over without plugs.
After that...well...we'll see.

Good Luck
Mike

[Oldcar_Mechanic]

Sounds like a fun project Mike.
Good luck with it all and keep us posted.

Ron

[Gal500XL]

Thanks for all info guys, i just got a 63 Galaxie from a junk yard, that has been parked for 10 or 15 years, i'm going to get some Marvel Oil and a 15/16 socket tomorrow.

Thanks
Sam

[Oldcar_Mechanic]

Cool car Sam.

I had a 63 with a 390 and stick back in the days. Good luck with the project and keep us posted or show us some pictures.

Ron

[bobbydamit]

Don't let them scare you. It all depends how well it was stored. Using Marvel oil or Kroil oil in the cylinders is great but just a couple of squirts and then turn over with coil wire off and plugs out, and fuel lines off from both sides of the pump. Screw on new oil filter and make sure it is full of oil, old or new. Turn over until you get oil pressure, ie. light goes out or gauge says so. Then hook a new intake line into the pump, hook back carb side line and stick intake into a 5 gal. can of gas and go for it. May have to prime the carb a bit, but don't worry about changing everything until you get it running and see how it comes out. I picked up a Hudson that sat for 12 years. I cut the fuel line and added filter, primed it and it started and ran. We put brakes in it and drove it 125 miles to a trucking company that shipped it from VA. to MN. My son is still driving it around and aside from a new oil filter and a couple of oil changes, we set the carb and timing, added new plugs and wires, we have never touched the engine. Boy did it stink with that old fuel for the 125 miles. Have fun, thats what its all about.

[Gal500XL]

The Marvel Oil WORKS!!!!!! I took the plugs out, and poured it in all the cylinders and the intake, and let it set. I tried to turn the motor with a breaker bar on the crankshaft after a day but it wouldn't turn, and then I tried it today the same way, still wouldn't turn. I put in a new battery and bumped the starter twice and I got a bath with Marvel Oil, it sprayed oil everywhere....LOL.. I thought I was far enough out of the way, but I guess not. It turns over great now. I checked and I'm getting fire to the points, i'll try and fire it up this weekend.
Thanks for the info....


Sam Cofield
63 Galaxie 500XL
Anniston, AL
FGCoA # 6982

[Oldcar_Mechanic]

Sam, I'm glad to hear that. I'm also thinking that it put a huge smile on your face when it turned. Hope the rest goes well.

Ron
P.S. I see you're from Anniston, AL. Would you mind if I sent you an e-mail?

[bobbydamit]

Like I said, " just a couple of squirts, " now you know why, Sorry I didn't mention the proverbial { bath }, which many of us have experienced, but at least you won't squeek when you move about now.