Rust On Engine Cylinders

75 elky · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 3:27 pm Post subject: Rust On Engine Cylinders

what is the chances that there is rust on the cylinder walls in an engine that sat 10+ years??? i recently bought an 1973 Oldsmobile 442 that has been sitting since the late 1990s around 97 or 98 and i am just curious on what i am facing to get her running... i know it s not an el camino but i have to drive something while the el camino is being restored....LOL
_________________
4th Gen's Rock

dwagner1974 · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 4:15 pm Post subject: Rust

I would say there is a good chance there is some rust on the cylinder walls if the engine hasnt been running for ten years .

Does the engine turn over easy ?ifits not locked up you might be ok . Try to turn it over and make sure it turns freely . If it does turn over freely I would take out the spark plugs and spray some good penetrating oil in there and let it sit . Then you will need to make sure you drain the gas tank and clean it out . Replace the fuel filter,spark plugs and put premium gas in it . I would then check to make sure you are getting spark to the spark plugs . It takes three main things to make a car run .

1. Ignition spark
2. Compression
3. Fuel

Before I spend any money at all I would perform a compression test on all 8 cylinder to make sure the engine is OK . I would also change the engine oil and filter once you determine your compression is pretty even on all 8 cylinders . If the motor turns freely and it has good compression,ignition spark and fuel delivery to the carb then chances are it will run .

Start with the compression test and make sure the engine turns freely and you dont hear any grinding or knocking while you are cranking it over and let us all know what kind of compression each cylinder has .

Ill keep my eye on this post and help any way I can but be positive .. I found a 37 Chrysler that the owners son said hadnt been started in over 20 years and I had it running in a few hours . It can be done you just have to follow the right steps and use good common sense .

Let me know if I can help !!
_________________

75 elky · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:47 pm Post subject:

thanks for your interest it might be a couple weeks before i can start working on the car... i am in the USAF and don't really get a whole lot of free time but i will appreciate any help that you offer...
_________________
4th Gen's Rock

dwagner1974 · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 6:38 am Post subject: Anytime

Thats cool .. If I can be of any help just ask .. Ill help you anyway I can .. Thats what we do on this site .. Keep me posted !

Good luck !!

Dennis
_________________

alphamale1906 · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject:

I read this and had to post my story about a Monte I picked up years ago. It was a 1970 Monte with the 400 SBC. Anyway, I picked it up in 2005. The last inspection sticker read 84. Meaning it was last inspected and on the road some time in 83.

None the less, some time in 83 or 84, the owner swapped the heads for newer 80's heads. I'm guessing heads that were a little more unleaded friendly. Normally a decent idea, except it was appearant that he didn't know that heads should be tightened in a sequence and to a specific torque. After installing the heads and trying to run the engine he couldn't get it to start. He left for college in the fall of 84 and returned in 85 to try to start the car again. Again, after several attempts failed he just put it on blocks to work on it later. Well later became never and his parents insisted he get the car out of their garage after 20 years.

I picked the car up, towed it home and removed the heads. Some head bolts felt welded in, while some were just past finger tight. Needless to say the bad torque job and constand starting just let water flood into 3 cylinders where it was warmly nestled for 20+ years. There was rust and corrosion in 6,8 and 7. I had no desire to take the engine apart and figured if I could get the engine to spin, I'd save the full 400 to 406 (or larger) rebuild for another day!

2 cans of PB Blaster, 3 quarts of tranny fluid, 2 quarts of oil, 5 scotch brite pads and a months of letting it marinate....It finally broke loose. I bolted up a high torque starter and used a breaker bar. My uncle bumped the starter while I pulled with a breaker bar and it spun loose. I cleaned all the crap out of the block, changed all the filters, dumped in high test and she fired up.

Granted, I had too many projects all ready disassembled, so I didn't have time to start another full project. I would not tend to reccomend this process, but I can't complain...This engine has been running fine ever since.
_________________
Excuses are the tools of the incompetent!

75 elky · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 4:26 am Post subject:

well i figured i would update this tread for those that took interest to it... today i took off the belts and turned the engine over by hand she's not locked up... so i went ahead and put the belts back on an had a buddy take me to auto zone. and bought a battery, battery terminals, oil, anti freeze, gas can... went back to the car primed the carb but the remainder of the gas i got in the tank tried an tried to fire her up i got a little rumble from the gas that i primed the carb with and that was it. come to find out shes got a bad fuel pump so i guess i will get a new on and try to fire her up either tomorrow or i might have to wait till next weekend.
_________________
4th Gen's Rock

464elky · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 7:12 am Post subject:

After sitting that long it is not necessarily a bad pump. Run a hose over into another can of fuel. In other words by-pass alll the lines and tank on the car. They have a tendency to stop up the fuel pickup tube with old, dried varnished fuel after sitting that long. If the pump can't get anything on the vacuum side it will act like it is bad.

For a quick check just take the supply hose off the pump, put your finger over it and have your buddy crank the engine and see if you feel the pump trying to suck.
_________________
84 Elky with 455 Buick, Tremec TKO600 5 speed, 8.5 3:42 posi -
My Members Page Album
Another 3 to 9 years should finish it.

75 elky · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject:

i did disconnect the the line that goes to the tank and ran a line to a 2 gallon gas can and i also disconnected the line that goes to the carburetor and turned the engine over and no fuel flowed out of the line for the carburetor that is how i came across the conclusion that the pump is bad. but come to think of it i didn't disconnect the vacuum line from the pump and check it... so i guess i will check that but a pump is only like $25 anyway so might as well get a new one.... i also found out that the car sat for 13 years last inspection tag was dated 1995....lol
_________________
4th Gen's Rock

alphamale1906 · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject:

Considering the cost of a fuel pump, I agree...New can't hurt. My uncle had his 67 firebird out for inspection when he realized his pump went bad. It was the pump he installed at least 25 years ago. The car sat sporadically between 1-5 years at a time. He'd drive it for a year, then it's sit at least a year. I think the longest was 5 years when he had the body work getting done. Anyway, he was at the inspection shop when he tested the fuel pump and nothing. I stopped by AZ, picked one up for $25 and he threw it on while sitting in front of the shop. 20 minutes later he was on his way.
_________________
Excuses are the tools of the incompetent!

75 elky · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 11:26 pm Post subject:

well i bought and installed the new fuel pump today i got fuel going up to the carburetor now but she still won't start... I think i am going to have to replace some of the rubber hoses they are cracked and dry rotted so bad that fuel leaks out of them... But i would think as long as i am getting fuel to the carburetor she should fire up but no go... might have to get some ignition parts like new points, distributor cap, plugs, plug wires... the strange thing is i get a little fire when i prime the carburetor with fuel weird i guess i will mess around with her some more tomorrow... Any thoughts as to what the problem is guy's?????
_________________
4th Gen's Rock

464elky · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:59 am Post subject:

The needle could be stuck in the seat not letting the fuel into the carb. It could be that after sitting for 10 years the old fuel dried up and has the jets plugged in the bottom of the fuel bowl. Either way you need to take the top off the carb and see what you have going on in there.
After sitting for 10 years I would suggest either re-building the carb if you feel comfortable with it or have it done. You will probably end up there before it runs right even if you get it started.
Hang in there! It sounds like you are determined and willing to get a little grease under your nails. You'll be proud of yourself when you win the battle.
_________________
84 Elky with 455 Buick, Tremec TKO600 5 speed, 8.5 3:42 posi -
My Members Page Album
Another 3 to 9 years should finish it.

MEvang · Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 6:34 am Post subject:

The 86 I have sat for 4 years at my buddies salvage yard. The fuel pump worked but the carb was a mess and had to be rebuilt. It would not start or even idel on it before the rebuild but would run if I tricked fuel down it's throat.
I would also suggest you drop the fuel tank before you start pumping stuff out of the tank. Even if it was totally empty you could find you have some nasty stuff swimming in there and if pumped through your new parts you may damage them.
I do rebuild carbs on the side if you need the service.
Mike
_________________
"That the automobile has practically reached the limit of its development is suggested by the fact that during the past year no improvements of a radical nature have been introduced." (Scientific American January 2, 1909).

75 elky · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 9:56 pm Post subject:

well i figured i would up date this post. i got the old girl to fire up today for the first time in 13 years she sounded good and idled good and she didn't smoke. i didn't run her long because i still have to change the oil and put a new thermostat and maybe a new water pump. but i must admit i am quite proud of my self for getting her running again esp after setting 13 years...
_________________
4th Gen's Rock