lm782
Member
New to the forum. I look forward to getting to know some of you (at least virtually), learning more about Mopars, and getting my father in-law’s 1969 340 4-speed Swinger with 57k miles on the road.
He is the original owner, can’t drive it anymore and has stored it in an unheated garage for roughly 35 years. By-and-large it is all original. He put it away with a full tank of gas and has done little to it since. My mission is to have him ride in it again before it’s too late.
My biggest challenge is that the car is outside of Chicago, and I live in the Boston area. My in-laws are not ready to relocate the car yet (and ride in it when they come visit). Whatever work I do (at least on this initial start), must be choreographed when we visit them, or done by someone else (and I don’t relish that idea).
To the best of my knowledge, it hasn’t started in about 35 years. Here’s what I’ve picked up so far, from various sources, on what to do for its initial start:
· Pull the plugs, spray Marvel Mystery Oil in each cylinder.
· Spray Mystery oil through the carburetor (the oil will get past the intake manifold and make it to the valves).
· Turn the engine over by hand and let it sit a day (allowing the oil to penetrate).
· Repeat process a number of times (5-7) and the engine should be easier to turn over.
· In the interim, drain the fuel tank.
· Fill the tires (help with ground clearance in case we need to get underneath).
· If there’s no fuel tank drain, disconnect the fuel line from the carburetor and use a pump to drain the tank (I need recommendations on how to do that, what pump…? ).
· Check the engine oil to make sure it doesn’t have any obvious contamination.
· If oil looks reasonable, ok to use for an initial start but plan on changing it shortly thereafter. It might be a good idea to add SeaFoam (or Mystery oil, or ATF) to the oil as an engine cleanser before changing it.
· Make all the necessary connections (plugs, new/recharged battery…).
· Roll it outside, if possible.
· Add SeaFoam (or other similar cleanser) with new gas to help clean out the tank, lines and carburetor.
· Alternatively on FABO I found, “…actually use two stroke gas pour some down the carb and filled the bowl. Fire it right up, let it smoke for a few it will clear right up… if the rings, valves, and seals are still good.” (I don’t know how to fill the bowl. Won’t the fuel pump do that?)
· Prime oil pump by disconnecting coil wire and turn it over for a bit.
· Reconnect coil and start it up.
From there the real work begins; replacing brakes, lines, assessing fuel system, coolant, dual points, tuning…
Any suggestions what else I need to think about or plan for?
Many thanks.
He is the original owner, can’t drive it anymore and has stored it in an unheated garage for roughly 35 years. By-and-large it is all original. He put it away with a full tank of gas and has done little to it since. My mission is to have him ride in it again before it’s too late.
My biggest challenge is that the car is outside of Chicago, and I live in the Boston area. My in-laws are not ready to relocate the car yet (and ride in it when they come visit). Whatever work I do (at least on this initial start), must be choreographed when we visit them, or done by someone else (and I don’t relish that idea).
To the best of my knowledge, it hasn’t started in about 35 years. Here’s what I’ve picked up so far, from various sources, on what to do for its initial start:
· Pull the plugs, spray Marvel Mystery Oil in each cylinder.
· Spray Mystery oil through the carburetor (the oil will get past the intake manifold and make it to the valves).
· Turn the engine over by hand and let it sit a day (allowing the oil to penetrate).
· Repeat process a number of times (5-7) and the engine should be easier to turn over.
· In the interim, drain the fuel tank.
· Fill the tires (help with ground clearance in case we need to get underneath).
· If there’s no fuel tank drain, disconnect the fuel line from the carburetor and use a pump to drain the tank (I need recommendations on how to do that, what pump…? ).
· Check the engine oil to make sure it doesn’t have any obvious contamination.
· If oil looks reasonable, ok to use for an initial start but plan on changing it shortly thereafter. It might be a good idea to add SeaFoam (or Mystery oil, or ATF) to the oil as an engine cleanser before changing it.
· Make all the necessary connections (plugs, new/recharged battery…).
· Roll it outside, if possible.
· Add SeaFoam (or other similar cleanser) with new gas to help clean out the tank, lines and carburetor.
· Alternatively on FABO I found, “…actually use two stroke gas pour some down the carb and filled the bowl. Fire it right up, let it smoke for a few it will clear right up… if the rings, valves, and seals are still good.” (I don’t know how to fill the bowl. Won’t the fuel pump do that?)
· Prime oil pump by disconnecting coil wire and turn it over for a bit.
· Reconnect coil and start it up.
From there the real work begins; replacing brakes, lines, assessing fuel system, coolant, dual points, tuning…
Any suggestions what else I need to think about or plan for?
Many thanks.