Where to start with car that's been in hibernation

Discussion in 'Wet behind the ears??' started by koosh, Mar 31, 2021.

  1. koosh

    koosh Well-Known Member

    Just acquired 72 Skylark 350 motor, 350 tranny. Brand new to the forum, and to Buicks....looking for a starting point for a car that sat for 2 years. Motor turns over but no start. Thinking have to pull fuel tank, flush it or replace?
    Would I need to replace all the fuel lines? Once good fuel gets to carb, (fingers crossed it starts), was thinking moving on to the brakes....has manual master cylinder, 4 wheel drums. Figured inspect drums, see if wheel cylinders leak, replace shoes.....or is there an inexpensive kit to convert to disc? Replace the master?
    Thanks in advance for any advice.
     
  2. buicksWILD

    buicksWILD Well-Known Member

    Hello and welcome!

    I'd personally drop the tank and clean it out. Then visually inspect the rubber portions of the fuel lines. If their brittle and cracked it wouldn't be a bad idea especially with the tank already down. I know I'll have to replace mine soon on my 65.

    Brakes, is where it gets rough around here especially with purist and ill just leave it at that.

    If it was me I'd inspect the drums and possibly have them turned. Then flush the old fluid out and replace the shoes and wheels cylinders for peace of mind.

    I went ahead and converted my front drums to disc and im content with the results.
     
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  3. koosh

    koosh Well-Known Member

    That sounds good...as far as purists stuff, car is already "non-conforming ", so keeping stock is a non issue, especially when I go to fat tires and 18" wheels, lol....you mentioned you converted to front disc, what kit did you use? Are your brakes manual? If so, manual works good?
     
  4. koosh

    koosh Well-Known Member

    By the way, best way to clean out fuel tank?
     
  5. buicksWILD

    buicksWILD Well-Known Member

    My choice of kits is limited because I have a Lesabre. My car had power assist but the kit included a bigger booster. I went with a kit put together from
    https://www.speedshopstore.com/store-location

    Being in a Skylark you have a wide range to choose from.
     
  6. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    Take the fuel cap off and give it a sniff. See if it smells like fuel or varnish. If it smells decent and there's not alot in the tank, you can fill the tank with fresh fuel. Whatever is left will get diluted enough to burn through the engine

    Or you can crack the line going to the carb and attach a rubber hose to the end. Put the other end in a clean water bottle and take a fuel sample. This will also serve 2 functions as it will test the fuel pump as well.

    As far as the engine not firing, file the points and give it a go. Throw a little fuel down the carb and see if she fires.
     
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  7. koosh

    koosh Well-Known Member

    Thanks!
     
  8. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    Sitting 2 years isn't that big of a deal. I've gotten cars running that were sitting for decades. Fuel lines are fine. Just give the rubber lines a squeeze. If they're hard or feel like a wet noodle, replace the rubber. Sometimes old rubber gets porous. Once you get the car started, the rubbers starts to look wet
     
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  9. koosh

    koosh Well-Known Member

    thanks
     
  10. FLGS400

    FLGS400 Gold Level Contributor

    If you have to drop the fuel tank or replace the fuel pump, just plan on replacing the rubber lines as well. In the scheme of things, t's cheap to buy the rubber line and new clamps for it. Who knows how long they were previously there for, anyway.
     
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  11. koosh

    koosh Well-Known Member

    By the way, any experience converting points over to Pertronix?
     
  12. koosh

    koosh Well-Known Member

    Excellent idea, thanks
     
  13. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    I would get the car running first with the points. Once you have the engine dialed in and running well, then convert it to pertronix
     
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  14. koosh

    koosh Well-Known Member

    Thanks again
     
  15. Nailhead in a 1967

    Nailhead in a 1967 Kell-Mnown Wember

    Put an electric fuel pump in the factory line between the original fuel pump and the carb, put the sucking end in a small container with fresh fuel.
    Check for sparks and run the car.

    If the engine's fuel pump is still working, it will squirt the fuel from the tank from the disconnected fuel line..

    Catch that fuel in a container and check the color and smell.

    Cleaning the fuel tank:
    Remove the empty tank from the car, rent a cement mixer, put pebbles in the tank, strap it to the cement mixer and start making some noise! :D:p:cool:



    EDIT:

    If the carbs starts to leak fuel after you connect the electric fuel pump:
    Gently tap the lower side of the carb where the fuel bowl is located.
    A sticking float bowl will cause that kind of trouble.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2021
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  16. BYoung

    BYoung Stage me

    The Lectric Limited electronic points conversion is superior to Pertronix in my opinion. Member ToddsGS on this forum sells them on his website.

    https://www.stage1restoration.com/
     
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  17. PGSS

    PGSS Gold Level Contributor

    Like buicksWILD said, swap out everything brakes wise for peace of mind. Who knows just how long it was when they were last serviced.
    The 4 brake cylinders, shoe's and all the lines. Included in the lines are the rubber pressure flex hoses to all the brakes at the suspension junction.
    Your going to have the car jacked up anyways and doing it yourself i'm assuming.
    What also happens is you most likely strip a line flange or a bleeder screw trying to do a partial fix. So take out everything and start fresh and not worry about stripping just one part like I said.

    As it's drums all around you want new cylinders so your as close to equal pressure as possible. Drums like we know can be a pain to adjust right and fix the pulling one way or another and locking up just one wheel first. Nice cleanly cut drums also.
    If your doing it yourself you will save alot on labor and as you go its not all that hard providing everything is new..

    Nothing worse than having the car up for other work like your potential gas tank work and then going for a ride and having a failure at something you didn't fix..
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2021
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  18. Dano

    Dano Platinum Level Contributor

    I'm w/Jason here - Keep it simple. We used to get 'em running after a lot longer. I'd open the butterflies & spray a little ether down there. If it fires, you know you've got spark. Then see if it'll run off a gas can. If so, your pump works & then move onto the lines & tank. If it doesn't fire on ether, you don't have spark so move on to filing the points & work backwards.

    All the stuff everyone else mentioned is great & should be done, but just get it running 1st & as long as you have spark, fuel, & compression, she'll run.

    When done correctly (as Peter said, replace everything) , the manual 4 wheel drum will actually stop wonderfully but nothing wrong w/converting to disk. You can even run aluminum drums all around.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2021
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  19. koosh

    koosh Well-Known Member

    Great advice, thanks everyone
     
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  20. CJay

    CJay Supercar owner Staff Member

    All depends on the condition of the car prior to when it was parked. If it was in decent shape and just sidelined, there's going to be very little to do here. Sure, check the brakes. Pull the boots on the wheel cylinders. But I wouldn't just replace stuff just for the sake of replacing it. The usual answer is- it's old! Well, the whole car is old. The question is- is it serviceable? If the part is still good, leave it alone.
     
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