New car.. not driven for four years...

[Arthurdaily]

Hi all, well the recovery man dropped off my new pride and joy, a 71 two door, today, mostly blue... with some brown... lol. Anyway, I'm going to do a full assessment tomorrow, ie a total strip down and rebuild, or just a good tidy up - but as part of this I want, obviously, to see how well he runs, so my question is... where do I start in relation to 'getting it going'?

I thought:

1. Change the engine oil and coolant
2. Charge the battery (obviously)
3. Drain the fuel tank and lines up to the carb
4. Turn the engine over by hand without plugs to lubricate everything
5. Turn the key and hope for the best!!!

Anything else??? For example how do I get the old fuel out of the carb?

Any help appreciated!!!

[bmcecosse]

Take plugs out and squirt in some oil - and leave it for a while to soak down through. Then feel very carefully if the engine will turn over - use the fan blades. If it's not moving easily - don't force it.. Add some diesel fuel down the bores -and leave for 24 hours - then try again. Assuming it turns - crank it on the starter until the oil light goes out - and keep going for another 10 seconds. Then check for a spark - clean and fit the plugs - pour a bit of fuel down the carb inlet - and crank it up to see if it starts and runs for a few seconds... Likely you will need to encourage the fuel pump to work The clutch is also likely to be stuck. Don't worry about oil change until the engine has had a good run to circulate the oil and heat it up to normal temp.

[beero]

Wouldn't worry too much about the fuel. Bought a KA for my wife that hadn't run for 4 years, started no problem and ran nicely on the old fuel. Only thing I would add to BMC's advice is whip off the rocker cover to make sure a couple of valves aren't stuck down. Had this on mine, but it was sat for 20+ years.

[bmcecosse]

The battery is likely to be well beyond 'charging' anyway......

[Arthurdaily]

Thanks chaps - but which bit is the carb 'inlet' - ?

[bmcecosse]

Oh dear - steep learning curve ahead I think! Never mind - we are here to help. Remove the air filter assembly - where the air goes in to the carb is the inlet.... Tip an egg cup of petrol down there.

[Arthurdaily]

Right, did as I was told - and hey presto I managed to drive round the block!!!!

Here he is:

[MarkyB]

Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere.


(If it ain't broke, don't fix it.)

Is a fine motto.

I wouldn't touch the fuel system unless you have to, it worked before, not that long ago, the battery and brakes are another matter!

[Arthurdaily]

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[Arthurdaily]

He started, on the handle in fact - I then kept it running for a few minutes, but he cut out..

and again...

and again...

So I cleaned out the float chamber, and took off the damper and cleaned all the associated bits and bobs of the carb Yes, it is a steep learning curve, but I'm getting there lol. It was interesting to see the needle - this comes up then does it with each stroke to allow a fine mist of petrol to be 'sucked' into the tube and mixed with the air, is that right? Anyway, got lots of stuff out... brown petrol sediment.

Cranked again...

Same thing...

Then I remembered some casual reading I'd done on a thread here, and changed the condenser, eh voila! Perfect, I even drove round the block - everything works A1!!! Even the brakes, after four years sitting that is pretty amazing I think.

Thanks for your help, again! I'm going to post these pics on the restoration forum though, as I'd like a sort of public record of how I get on with 'Sam'

[Arthurdaily]

Oh, and I kept it running when I got back to get it well up to temp to check coolant hoses etc... and discovered the battery is charging, I can now start it off the battery... at least at the moment... good old Halfords batteries...

[MarkyB]

Blue paint is very robust, you'll be amazed how well it will polish up with some T cut or other cutting compound.
Even a wash will take off some of that "dead" paint.

[Arthurdaily]

Hmnnn.... there are chips, scales, rusty bits pocking through... it needs a respray Ithink eh?

[MarkyB]

Would you get your grandmother to wear make up?
Feel free to join the ranks of resprayed Minors though, it's your car.

[bmcecosse]

Well done getting it going - miracle that the fuel pump worked.......... and that the clutch wasn't seized. And yes - the piston in the carb rises, taking the needle with it - the needle is tapered, and so as it rises it allows more and more fuel to stream from the jet - matching the increasing air flow that is causing the piston to rise in the first place ! Cunning invention - and very very effective.

[Arthurdaily]

Grandmothers and makeup ha ha - now I see the point there, but, although the picture don't show it, there is a lot of surface rust, so it will HAVE to have some respraying done anyway, that is what I'll be doing, sorting out the rusty areas - what other route could I take???

[Arthurdaily]

That is not meant sarcastically by the way - spraying will require expensive equip I haven't got and couldn't be done until NEXT summer / warm weather anyway, so any sugestion re present poor paint job, rust, flaking paint etc would really really be gratefully received.

[bmcecosse]

Just do your best with spray cans.