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Restart after years sitting in garage...advice?

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davester

davester

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I'm pretty close to the point of restarting my '71 MGBGT. I rolled it into the garage about 7 years ago, pulled the wheels to do a brake job, but one thing led to another and I soon had the master cylinder out, plus other responsibilities intervened, and the project languished. About a year or two after immobilization I dumped some gas stabilizer into the tank but the battery was dead by then so I didn't pump the stabilized gas through the lines/carbs.

It's almost back together and I'm wondering what I should do to prep it for takeoff. I gave the gas tank a sniff and it still smells like normal gasoline. However, I'm guessing the lines, pump and carbs are gunked up. I figure that I ought to yank the pump, jets and float bowl covers and clean all that stuff up with carb cleaner, plus backflush the line with spray carb cleaner. Anything else? Am I crazy trying to use 7 year old gas, or will it likely start up like Woody Allen's VW in Sleeper? OTOH, is this overkill? Should I just try to start it up?

One other thing, pre-immobilization my pump had the occasional "whack it with a mallet" startup requirement. Is a quick file and clean of the points a good fix or should I replace the point assembly or rebuild the whole thing. I'd rather not do that since I want to maintain forward progress, not tear more things apart.

Opinions (of which I know there are many) please.
 
I second! I've used it on two cars and started on the third.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Is a quick file and clean of the points a good fix or should I replace the point assembly or rebuild the whole thing.[/QUOTE]
I always opt for rebuilding if at all possible...sounds like yours is ready for points & diaphragm.

As you look at my checklist, you'll know which items you can skip & which ones to do...I tried to lay it out just like I do it, one area of the car at a time.
 
The list Tony has is great. I am slowly working my way through it so my 65 can go thundering down the road again.

Once my new starter from Hap shows up, I can turn over the engine to get some pressure back into the old girl.
 
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