How would you do this? The car I am looking at is a 70' lemans, and the owner said he hasn't driven it in like 4 years or something.. But how would you go about getting it running? So far, this is what I can think of, new oil, new spark plugs, wires, cleaning the carb, blowing air through the gas lines to get any dirt out, then cleaning the gas tank.. Is that all I should do? I mean, eventually I will change everything, as in gas lines, belts etc... But I want to get it going enough to where I don't have to push it around the body shop.

Thanks in advance.

Personally, if it really was only 4 years, I would put some fresh gas in it, maybe a few squirts down the carb so it will start right up and ..... turn the key and go for it. I have started cars that have been sitting a lot longer than that and never did anything special.

So I shouldn't have to worry about anything? My only concern really is tearing up the numbers matching motor.

I started my Fiat that was sitting for 13 years by just putting a battery in it.

My Chevelle was sitting 8 years the day I went to give the guy the cash and get take it home he had the wheels shined already.

First,make sure all the fluids are correct and at the correct levels.Then I usually crank the engine for about 15 sec and then give the starter a rest,doing this until I get oil pressure.Once I have oil pressure, a simple pedal to the floor and hit the starter again usually does it on a "Carb" car.FI is a different story.Old gas will burn if you cannot get it all out of the tank.I just today ran the rest of the gas out of a car I have had parked(long story)since the Northridge Earthquake.That gas was 14yrs old give or take.Just my.02

Check the fluids, fresh gas and turn the key. My 68 Camaro sat for 7 years and started right up.

My SS 454 sat for 26 years......fresh oil,gas & battery and it fired up! I then changed the gear oil in the 12bolt & the Muncie before I drove it under its own power.

I would pull the plugs and put a shot of oil in each cylinder. After sitting for four years, there won't be much left on the cylinder walls and they won't get any until the engine starts.

Tom

If you are really concerned, do as suggested and shoot some oil or Marvel Mystery Oil in the cylinders. Maybe disconnect the coil and turn the engine over a few times.

My Malibu sat for a few years. I stuck a battery in it, turned it over, kicked the throttle a few times and drove it away!

Do yourself a favor and don't try to change the oil BEFORE running it. That filter is probably stuck on there pretty tight, and it will be easier to get off after warming it up. The oil is more than likely good enough for a few miles. I personally like to take the plugs out and crank it for oil pressure, but that's just me.

The 64 Chev C-10 I got last year sat outside, under a tree since 1997.
Was gonna buy it anyway, but the owner insisted we fire it up.

Put a battery in it----tuned the key----a shot of ether---and it was-a-running.

Not that I would reccomend this procedure---but it worked.

Make sure the fluids, especially oil, are full, and that there is gas in the tank.

I would then install the battery, and try to start it.

If it cranks over, pull the air cleaner and spray some starting fluid down there.

If she fires, you have a good one. Then you can see if you can get it to run via the tank, fuel pump, and carb.

This way you don't wear out batteries and starters while the carb is filling, etc. When it fires on starting fluid, it will fill the carb if the lines are free and pump working.

Then see if she will idle, etc. May take some carb cleaning.

My Edelbrock carb sat from March to October, and was plugged up enough so it would not idle when I reinstalled it.

Most importantly,don't forget to pump the crap out of it! :D

Please squirt at least 3 squirts of good old MMO in each spark plug hole and then whirl her over using the starter w/ the plugs out, then install the plugs, add 5 gallons of new gas w/ a schosh down the dry carb and a couple a squirts of starting ether so she will fire off FAST and not grind a dry cam and go!!

Bring her up to, 2,000 to 3,000 rpm blipping her for like 20 minutes!

Shut her off, then do your "tune-up" and go!! Oil, filter, plugs, lash, etc.,m etc....

pdq67

I got the car home today, I didn't notice when I looked last night, but the gas cap is missing, and there are a few leaves in there.. How would I clean out the tank? Can I pull the hose from the engine, and put on a short hose connected to a small thing of gas? I don't want to spend more than $100 or two to get it running.. It has open headers so I bet she will purr :).. But thanks so far guys, tomorrow I am going to buy a battery, plugs, wires, hose and maybe some other stuff.

I got it running! Dropped a battery in, sprayed some starter fluid in, and she cranked right up!!! Tomorrow we are dropping the gas tank and cleaning it out..

I recorded it too, upload it later

We are taking a really big risk with this, but we just poured gas into the tank without cleaning it or anything, but it runs fine. Idles and everything, even the gas gauge works.. Thanks for the info and support guys!!

If there's lots of leaves and dirt in the tank they will plug up the in-tank filter before they get to the fuel pump. Make sure there is a fuel filter in the carb so any crud that gets that far won't plug the carb.