Engines...what to do!?!

[gealicpride]

The 240Z that I bought sat for 10 years but it was started from time to time as the PO tried t get it running. The last unsucessful attempt was about two months ago (I've had the car for 2 1/2 weeks now). I am including a snippet from an email that a friend sent to me to see if you guys think I really need to do all this stuff (not that I understand half of it anyways).

"The z is cake but you

need to check several things before trying to crank

it. If it's sat for a while the cylinders need to be

fogged with lube and the engine needs to have the oil

pressure primed or else it will score the cylinders

and possibly tear up something. The fuel is most

likely trash too so that needs to be transfused with

decent fuel as well as making sure there isn't rust in

the fuel system."

HELP!!

[smg1404]

If the car sat for 10 years, it probably needs many things... How long since the last successfull start?? If that was not too long ago, the engine may not be too messed up.. The things I would be worried about are ...

1. rust in the gas tank

2. rust on cylinder walls

3. other corosion caused from inactivity..

The things I would definately do before trying to start the car..

1. Pull the plugs & spray in a little oil

2. change the oil, and filter

3. drain the gas tank and replace the gas with fresh

4. while the plugs are out try to turn the motor with a

wrench.

5. check and or change the coolant.

6. replace the fuel filter

I might do more or less depending on how long since it ran last.. Check things as you are doing this.... Like is there rust on the plugs, what does the oil look like, will the motor turn easily. There is a pretty good chance that (if the last start was not too long ago) the engine is going to be OK... Good luck.

[gealicpride]

the oil is fresh as is the coolant and master cylinder fluid. the plugs and wires are new and he put new carbs on it before he tried starting it about 2 months ago. i also know that he drained the gas train and put fresh in at that time. most of the hoses are new or at least look new. the PO did a lot of work to the car in hopes of getting it running but it would only start, stutter then stall. he also bought a new choke cable but never got around to changing it out. how in the hell does the choke on this car work? i see the little lever but the choke knob had been broken off. anyways, thanks for the advice. any more is greatly appreciated!!

[smg1404]

You said he put new carbs on??? Are the new or just different.. Since you say that two months ago an attempt was made to start the car... You can forget a lot of my previous list...

May be there is a vacume leak, .... maybe... is there a fuel filter.. You may want to have a filter that you can see through for a while.. That would make it easy to see if there is junk (rust etc.) in the fuel. When you say it started, how long did it run? did it sound like it was running OK, but just quit after a few seconds, or did it sputter a lot and sort of give up..

[gealicpride]

a fuel filter? not sure. would need to take a closer look. the PO said that it would start and run for a very short time (less than a minute) and then just give up. the carbs are the....round top ones and i believe they are new used. he gave me the originals and they now grace the dining room floor. i know that he also said something about the engine smoking...until i get a battery in it i just don't know...he gave me ALL the reciepts for parts and services and i remember seeing a newer reciept for a fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, plug wires and distributor cap.

[kmack]

First check out the carbs to make sure they are set to pre-tune settings. Since they have been replaced, we'll assume that they have been apart and/or rebuilt somewhat. In that case, they need to be set at a pre-tune setting so the car will start, and then they can be properly tuned. Do a search on carbs here in the forums and you'll come up with a wealth of info. Also check out a Factory Service Manual or Haynes manual for additional info. That will get the carbs in the ball park.

If the engine ran but then sort of quit, then you can assume a few things there. One is your getting some fuel, but are you getting enough. What kind of operational condition is the fuel pump in? Another thing is the carbs may be close but not close enough. Do you know if the PO was able to get the choke operational during these times? These engine can be rather cold-blooded when first started and the choke helps a lot.

It sounds like most of the general electrical stuff has been taken care of so I wouldn't worry too much about those items. But I would focus on the fuel delivery system and the carbs. Check out articles on www.zhome.com and maybe do a search on SU carbs out on the net. There are quite a few places that give good descriptions on tear-down and rebuild procedures for these carbs.

Good luck on getting your car started.

BTW, definitely get a little oil into the cylinders and if you might even pull the valve cover and pour a little oil on the cam. It couldn't hurt...

[smg1404]

I agree that If it starts at all things sound good for starts... My concern about the fuel filter is that even a car that is used regularly, can get rust in the gas tank. That is because gas tanks tend to accumulate moisture if they are not kept full , or at least filled regularly. For a car used a a daily driver, this is not much of a problem. But when a car sits for long periods of time, not only are the top and walls of the tank exposed to air and moisture, but they don't even get sloshed with fuel now and then... If the tank was low on fuel the whole time it , could get really corroded.. This would mean when you start the car back up , the crud will make it's way to your carburators. They will plug up fuel passages quickly if no fuel filter is in place... If there is a fuel filter, it may plug quickly. This would give a symptom like you are now having... The car can start, but not keep running, because the fuel supplied cannot keep up with demand..

Just a thought... Look for dirt in the fuel system.. It may not be your whole problem, but I would be surprised if it were not part of it.