hey all. well, finally got my Z (1970 240 may/70 30 series)and the guy i got it from let it sit for the last year and a half. now that i got all the squirrels out of it, i want to start it. i know it starts, i witnessed it first hand, invloved a lot of jumper cables and ether. i had it flat bedded to my house and now, it wont start. i am thinking new plugs, wires, distributor cap, fuel filter, battery and drain the fuel from the lines and hoping this will start my poor neglected child. any other suggestions? something i may have missed? thanks.

hey all. well, finally got my Z (1970 240 may/70 30 series)and the guy i got it from let it sit for the last year and a half. now that i got all the squirrels out of it, i want to start it. i know it starts, i witnessed it first hand, invloved a lot of jumper cables and ether. i had it flat bedded to my house and now, it wont start. i am thinking new plugs, wires, distributor cap, fuel filter, battery and drain the fuel from the lines and hoping this will start my poor neglected child. any other suggestions? something i may have missed? thanks.

Yes. Dump and replace the oil and coolant. Remove the valve cover and pour your first quart over the entire length of the camshaft. Then you can reinstall the cover and add the other quarts. Check the coil for oil leakage. Replace if messy. Crank for about thirty-forty seconds in ten second bursts without the coil wire plugged in to the coil. This will get oil where it needs to be AND will exercise the water pump. Assuming your fuel is clean and fuel filters are new, the carbs half-way close to adjustment, timing somewhat close, etc., reconnect the coil wire and attempt to start.

Be quite mindful that water pumps fail easily after sitting unused for a while, so watch diligently for fluid leaks and shut down when/if you see one.

Best of luck!

Frank

Owner of a '70, too.