A 240 that's been sitting...

[phil359]

I finally decided on what I'm going to do with my 240.. It's been sitting in the garage while I've been debating on weather to keep the car, and get it painted or put it back together and sell it as is.... I'm going to keep the car, and get the paint job.. Now a question about the heater, and radiator core, and related hoses.

The car has been sitting for about 3 to 4 years, while I've been replacing this and that on the car. I have tried to be good about starting it up once every 3 to 6 months and let it idle up to temp, just to charge the battery, and circulate the coolant, and oil.

I know coolant, and oil brake down due to age, and should be replaced every so often, and I'll do that before I take the car out on the road, but what about the heater core, and radiator?? should I worry about corrosion, and blockage?? Should I pull them and have them tanked, and cleaned out?? The radiator will be easy, but after looking at the heater core.. That one has me nervous.. last thing I need is to get half way through pulling the core out, and find I can't get it out, and can't get it put back together.

Also what about the hoses, the engine compartment will be no problem, but again it's the heater core hoses that run through the firewall that worry me. It awfully tight under the dash.

Thanks

[LanceM]

If the system has always had antifreeze in it should be OK, drain it down a bit and look in the radiator, if the tubes look clear you are probably ok, if there is a lot of gunk and build up then maybe not. Depending upon how old the hoses are they may be ok, if they are old or of unknown age they probably should be changed, better to do it now than on the side of the road in the dark!