• Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

Stored car

JAS

Freshman Member
Offline
I have just received a 1979 MGB. This car has not been started for 20 years. It was not stored properly. Just left in a garage. The engine has very low miles. What are the steps necessary to get this car running?
thanks
 

Dave Russell

Yoda - R.I.P
Gold
Offline

ronzet

Jedi Knight
Offline
JAS,

First, drain the fluids and replace...filters included.

Visually check the wire harness to make sure there are no visible exposed wiring. Drain the fuel tank and, if possible, use one of the fuel tank cleaners to clean it out. Gas turns to tar after a few years. Remove and clean the carb float bowls DRAIN THE TANK AGAIN BEFORE you attempt a "turn it over"... Check ALL fluids for metal fragments...

Once this is done, put a SMALL amount of fuel, a gallon or so, in the tank. Charge the battery and turn the key to 'ON' <u>not</u> start. The fuel pump 'should' click, click, click....CHECK for fuel leaks and repair as necessary...

Once this is done, MAKE SURE that you have a fire extinguisher in your hand and turn the key to start...

If I have missed a point... I am all ears /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

Good luck, Sir....
 

DrEntropy

Great Pumpkin
Platinum
Country flag
Offline
ronzet said:
Once this is done, MAKE SURE that you have a fire extinguisher in your hand and turn the key to start...

HooBoi!!! Truer words...

The link to Tony's "Awaking a Sleeping B" are the best "guide" to accomplishing the task. Don't "skip" a step out of over-enthusiasm, either! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 

vping

Yoda
Bronze
Country flag
Offline
I keep a copy of Awakening next to my bed and study it before I go to sleep.
 

DrEntropy

Great Pumpkin
Platinum
Country flag
Offline
Vince, you're a sick individual.

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

...glad ya found th' BCF!!! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
 

Steve

Moderator
Staff member
Platinum
Country flag
Offline
One more word of caution if I may.....you might as well swap out the water pump before starting the car for the first time. After such a period of inactivity, no matter what the mileage, the original one will be toast. They do not take well to inactivity.

Ask me how I know this /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
 

David_DuBois

Jedi Warrior
Offline
"Vince, you're a sick individual." Maybe Vince studies that so he knows how to wake up in the morning /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

I would not put any money on the fuel pump taking off after this amount of time without having run. Remove the pump, take the end cover off and shine up the points with some 400 grit sandpaper. Keep after the contacts until the pump will run when hooked up to a battery.
Cheers,
 

V6MGB

Senior Member
Offline
In addition to the above expect the clutch to be frozen in place along with the rear brake shoes if the hand brake (emergency brake) was applied when the car was stopped.

Cheers , Pete.
 

vping

Yoda
Bronze
Country flag
Offline
David_DuBois said:
"Vince, you're a sick individual." Maybe Vince studies that so he knows how to wake up in the morning /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif

I would not put any money on the fuel pump taking off after this amount of time without having run. Remove the pump, take the end cover off and shine up the points with some 400 grit sandpaper. Keep after the contacts until the pump will run when hooked up to a battery.
Cheers,

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/devilgrin.gif
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
R TR6 I just brought this to its new home. It has been stored for 15 years, has only 21000 miles , and only 1000 sincw Triumph 12
Izula Wedge Help with TR8 assessment - stored for 15 years... Triumph 10
Newkie MGB keeping mice away from my winter stored MGB MG 11
W Midget stored away for the past 10 yrs. Spridgets 9
Y Restarting a stored Europa issues Part #2 Lotus 0
Y Restarting a stored Europa issues Lotus 1
Rick_Thompson TR2/3/3A Sanford Fl All British Car Show, April 6th Triumph 0
R TR6 Classic british car mechanic on Hilton Head SC Triumph 0
A Why is my car making this noise? Other Cars 5
N Wanted Help with car identification Other British Classifieds 2
mctriumph For Sale Project car 61 Tr3a Triumph Classifieds 0
tr6nitjulius General TR British Car Mechanic SoCal Triumph 0
B GT6 trying to ID my New Car. GT6 Triumph 6
G TR2/3/3A What color is my car? TR3 1958 Triumph 16
S TR2/3/3A What are some unusual places you've found parts for your car? Triumph 11
K TR2/3/3A Pushing down the clutch pedal when starting the car? Triumph 13
Hamish Racing TR2/3/3A Road trip video - car info Triumph 0
L For Sale British car collection for sale Morris Minors, Triumph Other British Classifieds 0
UltimateQuestion For Sale 1972 GT6Mk3 Project Car and lots of parts -Package Deal Triumph Classifieds 1
apbos New long term project. Sprite powered rear engined race car. Spridgets 9
Got_All_4 General TR New Triumph Concept Car TR25 Triumph 14
drooartz MGB Any risk rolling car on dry bearings MG 4
mctriumph General TR NEVER start a car with stale gas Triumph 0
J For Sale BN1 project car (price reduction) Austin Healey Classifieds 0
K TR2/3/3A Rear tire pressure when there is an anti roll bar at the front of the car? Triumph 1
AngliaGT Today's Car Show Spotted 8
P Where’s the British car? Spotted 4
apbos Help Identify this car chassis Racing 20
mezy some dreamers out there in classic car land Jaguar 8
B How to Get a Proof of Income for a Mortgage or car loan? Other Cars 3
Basil Alfred Hitchcock Frenzy - What car is this? Spotted 6
dougie Use your car as it was meant to be used Austin Healey 15
S For Sale 1955 Morris Minor touring car for sale. Other British Classifieds 5
LAW75 Car Trailer Austin Healey 20
UltimateQuestion For Sale 1972 GT6Mk3 Project Car and loads of parts Triumph Classifieds 7
V MGB Zenith Stromberg and a Cat on an earlier model car? MG 22
C For Sale 1974 TR-6 Project car for sale whole Triumph Classifieds 0
A General MG 2022 Car Display Geelong MG Car Club MG 2
glemon TR5/TR250 This is The Car Triumph 1
S Well, it is an RWA car Spridgets 2
AngliaGT At Today's British Car Club Meeting Spotted 7
Celtic 77 MGB Car history MG 1
Basil Internet Movie Car Database Other British Cars 0
Basil Hagerty Car Valuation Tool Other British Cars 1
L Can anyone tell me what car this is from please? Other Cars 0
shadowfever Rugby Car Show Spridgets 3
P Unknown British sports car Spotted 7
drooartz Viability of a parts/donor car Spridgets 6
LarryK BJ8 Parts or Project Car For Sale in St. Louis Austin Healey 3
K TR2/3/3A Mystery clunking and banging from rear of car when driving over rough road or bumps? Triumph 14

Similar threads

Top