advice on starting after storage

[Boris61]

Hey guys. I have been getting the body and paint sorted on my stock FI 84 and it has been sitting in a heated/cooled garage with an empty fuel tank for nearly a year. Anything special I should do (besides filling the tank and charging the battery) before attempting to start again?

[perthling]

Do an oil change, this will A) put nice fresh oil in and B) lubricate from above as you fill it.

Check the coolant colour and level.

Have a spare set of spark plugs on hand.

These engines are pretty sound so 12 months down time shouldn't worry it too much.

[So Cal Mark]

leaving the fuel tank empty isn't the best idea. You may find stuck injectors and fuel pump

[Boris61]

Yeah, I was concerned about the empty tank, Mark. I drained it and changed the fuel filter after stripping it all down. So the injectors and pump were probably dry. I hope there aren't any problems with these. It ran great when I parked it. I was also concerned about corrosion in the tank. I will let you all know how it works out and post pictures of the restoration. Should be ready to paint in a couple more weeks!

[perthling]

I was also concerned about corrosion in the tank.

I'm on my third (or is it my fourth?) fuel tank in my Spider...

[paintdudeluke]

When I start anything that's been sitting for a long time I use 50:1 chainsaw gas mix because it oils your dry cylinders and rings immediately, valves too. Nothing like a car that starts smoking the next day because the rings were scorched for the first 2000 rpm.

[fiat218]

Reading all this, I have to say I got the 80 and it was sitting for ten years, I pulled it home, put a battery in it and monkeyed around with it and started it up, to this day I have not changed the belts, just the carb and email stuff was removed, it has a low cylinder in compression, other they that I drive it all over, I did replace all the suspension
Probably lucked out in the long run

[BEEK]

jim, stop right now and replace the timing belt!!!!! please

[fiat218]

Yes I will, I should have done it I know the consequence if it snaps

[BEEK]

other than that i have taken engines out of a storage shed for 20 years and installed them in cars with new seals and timing belts and driven them for 50k miles with no issues. granted the cam boxes leaked, but dont most all of them

[fiat218]

other than that i have taken engines out of a storage shed for 20 years and installed them in cars with new seals and timing belts and driven them for 50k miles with no issues. granted the cam boxes leaked, but dont most all of them

I got new seats in the 80 does that help

[paintdudeluke]

Mine was sitting for 8 yrs and I'm driving it every day now. I replaced about every ignition component trying to chase down a glitch, I have a new belt arriving Monday with the disintegrated driveline donut thing. I have put about 700 miles on it and am paranoid about the belt even though it looks great and an old receipt shows it was replaced 10 years ago.