Awakening a long sleeper

[mbarjbar]

My '70 has been non-op for about 14 years, stored mostly indoors. Running when parked with gas and oil. 102k on the odometer. So, what is the best procedure for waking this baby up. Gas looks like thin molasses, master and clutch master cylinders are shot, I have new ones. Fuel tank is to be drained and reconditioned. Carbs had petrified fuel that is VERY sticky. They are being replaced. I have not tried to turn the engine over yet. I did not want to try to start her until all the other systems are restored.

Mike

[Arne]

http://classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22619

[mbarjbar]

That is the same situation I am in. I have not tried to turn the motor over. I want everything else working first. One question: Can I used PB Blaster in the cylinders instead of ATF? That stuff can free up most anything.

Mike

[psdenno]

I went through the same process with mine about a year and a half ago. It had been stored here in Palm Springs for about 15 years and only driven a few times in the 10 years prior to that. Time and heat had done in just about everything made of rubber or containing fluid. Replace everything noted in the link above, belts, clutch & brake cylinders, shock inserts, fuel lines, all fluids.

After I did all that, mine fired right up - with carbs that were last adjusted sometime during the final quarter of the last Century. The Z is an amazing, and forgiving, car. Have fun with the one you're bring back!

Dennis

[mbarjbar]

Great story Dennis. It is amazing to me how all these systems just turn to crap in our hot and dry climates. Did you have to replace all the suspension rubber and body seals? Mine look very tired.

Mike

[soundmasterg]

My 1972 240Z was sitting in a chicken coop for 20 years when I got it. I changed the clutch slave and master, all brakes, drained gas, complete tune up on the engine, turned engine over by hand after squirting oil in the cylinders several times. It started and ran after that, but the carbs needed work, so I overhauled them. Replaced exhaust and got rid of smog stuff, replaced trunk seal. Changed to a Pertronix. It runs and drives as a daily driver right now, but needs lots of work still. Still am fighting exhaust fumes in the car, especially when the windows are opened. Still have to change front seal, real seal, and pan gasket. Needs u-joints on the halfshafts, door seals, etc., but with some simple work like I've pointed out above, it can be made to run and drive fine with not too much effort.

Greg

[psdenno]

Great story Dennis. It is amazing to me how all these systems just turn to crap in our hot and dry climates. Did you have to replace all the suspension rubber and body seals? Mine look very tired.

Mike

The door and hatch seals had solidified and crumbled like a graham cracker. Suspension rubber survived a little better and gets by for now. I'm currently doing body work getting it ready for paint. Then it's on to carpet, upholstery, or new seats, and replacement of the rest of the rubber seals.

My son turns 16 in a few weeks and had his first experience with a stick shift today, courtesy of the 37 year old Z. When he gets his license, the plan is to let him drive it. I may want to hold off on paint in light of that.

Dennis

[EScanlon]

...My son turns 16...When he gets his license, the plan is to let him drive it. I may want to hold off on paint in light of that.

Dennis

You may want to reconsider that. Not the paint, but letting your son drive it.

The Z may be deemed a "Sports Car" by your insurance company.

Young male driver PLUS Sports Car = Outrageous Premiums

Also;

Young male driver PLUS Sports Car = "Hey y'all, WATCH THIS!!!"

ending with:

"Sorry Dad, I didn't realize how powerful she was.... Do you think we can fix her?"

There are other stories on this board and other forums atesting to this.

It isn't that your young man is necessarily irresponsible, it's just that the car DOES do that to folks... Heck this forum is proof of that, go read the responses from new owners ... 30+, 40+, 50 and 60+ years old ... that say the same things: "It's sporty, it goes fast, it handles well, and ... ooops, don't do this...".

It's like having a beautiful 16 year old daughter... you know EXACTLY what her date is thinking.... and he can deny it all night long but you would just have to inflict painful, permanent, disfiguring bodily harm.....IF something were to happen. At that point even a eunuch would be suspect. Do you follow my drift?

Let him drive it as a "treat", but then don't be surprised that he discovers that just about any key will turn the ignition lock, or just how simple it is to hot-wire.

No personal experience here, but plenty of "I seem to recall someone posting about that."

2¢

E

[psdenno]

You may want to reconsider that. Not the paint, but letting your son drive it.

The Z may be deemed a "Sports Car" by your insurance company.

Young male driver PLUS Sports Car = Outrageous Premiums

Also;

Young male driver PLUS Sports Car = "Hey y'all, WATCH THIS!!!"

ending with:

"Sorry Dad, I didn't realize how powerful she was.... Do you think we can fix her?"

<SNIP>

Let him drive it as a "treat", but then don't be surprised that he discovers that just about any key will turn the ignition lock, or just how simple it is to hot-wire.

No personal experience here, but plenty of "I seem to recall someone posting about that."

2¢

E

I appreciate the 2¢ worth. I'm a bit afraid of what the insurance increase is going to be and can remember what it was like to be 16 with a set of keys and no parents in sight.

The Z will most likely be "occasional use only". My wife is concerned about the safety aspects of a 37 year old car and I'm concerned about keeping him away from the Porsche in the garage. Your point was well made.

Sorry about the thread hijack.

Dennis

[RolfSis]

Great thread. When Gary said "Still am fighting exhaust fumes" .... wonder whether that's because you (like we) removed the Tar Mats to inspect the driver/passenger floorboards, since that's the first time we started getting fumes (after removing them for the inspection of our novice selves)...

[soundmasterg]

My car was missing whatever tar mats would have come on the driver's and passenger's side floorboards, though I would think since the exhaust exits out back, that the exhaust coming into the cabin would be getting sucked through bad seals in the back or grommets missing or what have you rather than coming up through inspecion holes in the floorboards? My floorboards are excellent too btw....no rust.

Greg