my dad recently passed away and I got his 1978 el camino ss. it turns over but it wont fire. anything i should do and have to do to safe guard the engine?
2007-09-16 17:02:56 · 11 answers · asked by gyro 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
well first of all has the car ran within the last 6 months? if no then the Gas is dead(turned to a kinda varnish) and isn't good for crap. the Carb will need rebuilt and the fuel tank removed and cleaned(your local radiator shop can handle this part after you remove it)then the fuel lines will still have a little trash in them so you'll need to replace the fuel filter often the first year , change the oil and filter , then change it again in 1 month or less this is to remove deposits.( an engine when it has sit for long long periods dries up; the oils deposits dry and when you do run it again they break lose and have a chance to stop up the oil pickup screen ,thats why you change the oil so soon after the first time it has ran).
then pull a spark plug wire off the cap(making sure you have no fuel leaks first)and crank it over while you see if there is spark jumping from the terminal on the distubuter cap if so then your good to go . but clean the fuel system first.
p.s
think about the brake system before you try and drive it, the brakes maybe stuck and the system need overhauled to
2007-09-16 17:25:23 · answer #1 · answered by gryason301 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First thing in first, You need to put some fresh gas in to the carb and the tank. You may also want to shoot a little bit of oil in to each plug hole to give it a little bit of lube. Not a lot (Like 1/8 of a teaspoon) but this should help give some lubrication, the other thing is to make sure that the oil pressure comes. If the light or the pressure stays down for more then 10 seconds. Shut the engine off. Do come attempt to start it again until you have drained the oil and checked the oil pump. Most times the oil pressure comes right up but you never know. when you put gas in the carb you will want just a little bit, About 1 or 2 teaspoons. this should prim the engine a bit so it will at least run for a second or two. If the engine does not start after about 3 or 4 minutes of turning. you may need to replace the fuel pump. When these sit for an extended period of time the diaphragm in side will become hard and start to crack, causing the pump to fail. If you want a sure fire start the first time. I would replace the fuel pump, fuel filter, spark plugs, cap, rotor, Oil and oil filter, replace the battery with a fresh one, and make sure the radiator hoses and radiator have fluid in them and do not show signs of leaking. if they are hard they should be replaced. Other then that this car should start right up. Good luck and take car of that car.
2007-09-16 17:15:27 · answer #2 · answered by gearnofear 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The first thing would be to change all the fluids. This includes the gas. You can also change the plugs and when you do, add a little bit of oil into the cylinders to help lubricate the cylinders until the oil pump can get pressure and start supplying the oil back to the engine.
Don't forget to change the brake fluid, the old stuff may have absorbed water and will boil once it gets hot and put air in the system and make the brakes fail.
Sorry to hear about your Dad, my condolences.
2007-09-16 17:11:50 · answer #3 · answered by Fordman 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I do this a lot, and usually I find that the carb is the only thing that really goes bad that takes time to fix. I'd be willing to bet everything else is okay. Even if it's not, the ignition system has a lot of low-priced stuff that is easy to replace.
If it won't start, don't you dare start posting on the internet until you've looked to see whether the problem is fuel or ignition. It takes both for the car to run.
You do want to observe the oil pressure indication, whatever that is, to see if you have some.
2007-09-16 17:09:09 · answer #4 · answered by Firebird 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
drain the gas tank and all the fuel lines and put a new fuel filter on it then make sure the fuel pump is working by unhooking the fuel line from the carb and have someone crank the engine over and put the fuel line in a cup or something to catch the gas if it comes out, if then you are getting gas hook it back to the carb, pull a spark plug out and hook the plug wire to it and ground the plug to metal and turn the car over again and see if the plug is getting spark, if you have both gas and spark it has to fire.
2007-09-17 13:17:30 · answer #5 · answered by mister ss 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clean the engine, Change the oil and filter, new plugs, wires and distributor cap and points, New thermostat, replace coolant, check and replace hoses and belts, check all electrical wires and cables, change fluid and filter in trany. After you have it running good flush the engine and cooling systems.
Great Old Car! Good Luck and treat it with TLC!
2007-09-17 15:14:15 · answer #6 · answered by sidecar0 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Change the oil first....;replace the fuel filter....the carb will most likely require an Overhaul....check in the distributor and cap....clean all grounds....drain and refill the radiator/engine block....change the spark plugs ...etc
2007-09-16 17:10:26 · answer #7 · answered by RiverRat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have the Carburetor rebuilt or exchange it for a new or rebuilt one. Drain the gas tank if you can or you can also add gas dryers and gas stabilizers to it if draining is to much of a hassle. Change the engine and tranny oils.
2007-09-16 17:20:32 · answer #8 · answered by Frankie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure that your check the oils and the battery first to avoid unnecessary troubles.
2007-09-16 17:09:54 · answer #9 · answered by ACE 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you can not get it started with all of the good advise that you have gotten, Let me know, I would like to buy it.
2007-09-16 18:28:36 · answer #10 · answered by richpena2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋