1976 Vega
cburrows84
07-04-2011, 11:59 AM
I have a 1976 Chevy Vega that has been sitting inside in a garage for the past 6 years. The engine is a 350, 4 BBL. It was running fine when it was stored 6 years ago, but since then it hasn't moved or been started. Anyone have any ideas on what it will need in order to get the ol' girl to fire up? I'm relatively handy and if I can avoid getting ripped off at the local garage I'd prefer that. Any thoughts anyone has are welcome.
danielsatur
07-04-2011, 12:23 PM
1) Pull the plugs and pour a little oil in each cylinder.
2) Let the oil soak
3) Check the oil.
4) See if you can turn the crank by hand with the plugs out.
5) Change fuel + filter
6) Clean carb
7) New battery
8) Turn her over a few times with the plugs out.
9) Change oil + filter
10) Put all the plugs back in.
Don't forget about the pump's ,they could lock up after time.
Power steering
Air cond
Air pump
Alternator
Water pump
It's probably best to take the belts off and turn by hand 1st.
2) Let the oil soak
3) Check the oil.
4) See if you can turn the crank by hand with the plugs out.
5) Change fuel + filter
6) Clean carb
7) New battery
8) Turn her over a few times with the plugs out.
9) Change oil + filter
10) Put all the plugs back in.
Don't forget about the pump's ,they could lock up after time.
Power steering
Air cond
Air pump
Alternator
Water pump
It's probably best to take the belts off and turn by hand 1st.
denisond3
07-09-2011, 07:20 AM
Also on a car thats been sitting that long, the seals will have gotten some corrosion under them, due to lack of new lube from being used. This is likely to wear the sealing surface, and result in some leakage after the car has been run for a while. So expect some slight leakage; engine main seals, power steering pump, the tailshaft seal of the transmission, etc.
And be sure to oil the door hinges, and all locks. I like to put a drop of motor oil onto the ignition key, then put it in the ign. lock for ten minutes, and do the same for each exterior lock too.
I would expect you will need to open up the brakes at each wheel, and clean out old muck in the wheel cylinders or calipers. A brake system can go bad from sitting as well as from use. If you have sticking wheel cylinders for instance, you might be wearing out brake shoes, or pads on the front (if it has disc brakes). This can be prevented by dismantling the things and cleaning them out. A lot would depend on whether the garage was dry inside most of the time.
And be sure to oil the door hinges, and all locks. I like to put a drop of motor oil onto the ignition key, then put it in the ign. lock for ten minutes, and do the same for each exterior lock too.
I would expect you will need to open up the brakes at each wheel, and clean out old muck in the wheel cylinders or calipers. A brake system can go bad from sitting as well as from use. If you have sticking wheel cylinders for instance, you might be wearing out brake shoes, or pads on the front (if it has disc brakes). This can be prevented by dismantling the things and cleaning them out. A lot would depend on whether the garage was dry inside most of the time.
Ol'Jim
08-09-2011, 10:32 AM
Well, CBURROWS84, did you get that Vega fired-up? How did it go? Any issues?
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