I have a car that is currently out of state that hasn't been started in a year.The car was not prepared for long term storage because this time span wasn't expected.The engine is a 3.1 Ltr V-6. How can I prepare this engine for a restart? I plan to recharge the battery and change the oil before attempting this. What other precautions can I take? Any helpful ideas will be appreciated. " Of course it's a Buick ". ....John
start One year is not too bad. You should disconnect the spark and crank it for a minute to lub everything. Bill :TU:
Bill and Frank, I appreciate the speedy responses. I guess it's better to be safe than sorry. ......John
i tried this a few times..seems to work sweet. remove sparkplugs,fill cyl's with diesel oil, fill crankcase with diesel oil..leave it for a week.. drain case..turn the engine over without plugs to remove the diesel from cyl's....then get her ready for firing up...i fill her with a mix of super lightweight oil,and regular 20/50 - 20/40 er so...and give it an oil change like asap, maybe run some of that engine flush stuff thru..depends on the motor tho... i got some real badly seized blocks to fire this way...jus maybe leave it a lil longer to soak the diesel if its bad..
how about an engine that hasn't run for 20 years? can you still start it? or it'll need a rebuild? or even extensive machine work (rusted cylinder walls) before the rebuild? i'm asking because i could buy a complete 455 for $150, which seems to be a good price, unless it's expensive to get it to run. do you think it is worth buying? and would the same steps work for that case?
the diesel trick is really only useful on motors that have been sat for a lil while.. i would say that a motor that has been sat for 20yrs + isnt gonna fire without possibly damaging something in the process... but its still worth soaking it in diesel or kerosene or something... as it'll help you along with the disassembly, and itll be reasonably clean while ya strip it.. all depends really on whether or not the motor you are lookin at has been sat with or without oil?!?!?!? i know of some ppl who've rebuilt blocks n left em dry while they continue on the bodywork...jus usually ends up with rusted cyl's etc... soak it(for a coupla wks) drain it and see if its freed the assembly by turnin the block with a wrench ,n the plugs out. then continue with the strip...
motor it depends on where the motor's sat. Was it under a tree in a bone yard or in somebody's warm garage? Does it turn? Is the seller willing to let you fire it up before you buy it? $150 for a core isn't a bad price, but do you want a running motor or a core to rebuild? A good running 455 goes for about $500 up. - Bill
it was kept in a garage and it is seized so it might be only a core. i've never rebuilt an engine but i'd like to try, that'd help me learn lots of things. so what should i check before buying it as a core? are there obvious signs that a block is not a good choice?
It you pull the pan you will send tar in the bottom that used to be oil. It may also have your pick up screen blocked.
uzzled: The original? engine in my GS400 sat for more than just a few years, in Phoenix heat and very low humidity, without being turned over or started all that time. The guy I bought the car from said that he tried to start it when he got it home and heard some godawful banging and knocking around under the valve covers when he tried it. Said he didn't squirt oil or anything into the cylinders first or pull off one of the valve covers. ou: At any rate, what he managed to do was break three rockers and bend about half of the pushrods. Turns out the oil had all but turned into a solid almost like a really hard plastic. Old STP maybe?? o No: Needless to say, pull a valve cover at the very least and look that thing over BEFORE you even try to start it. The previous post about the oil in the pan turning into tar is probably right on the money also. :Smarty: To avoid :rant: from your better half, check it out as well as you can first!
engine Ray - if it is seized then it is just a core. Good to learn on? sure, but you may want to try something cheaper to rebuild like a chevy 350. If you do buy it, try the diesel oil trick, basically fill the engine up and see if it will break loose the rings or what ever is binding before you take it about, will make it easier to dismantle at least. Get some reference material (Steve Dove's book for example) and a shop manual to help you along! :TU: - Bill
hmmm... i could rebuild a small block chevy, then sell it and buy a running buick engine with the money, maybe i could even get a whole parts car for it!:Brow: ...sorry for stealing your thread John
