Hello all, newbe here, I just got my gutlass home thursday and I want to start her up, (just to position her on driveway) I plan on replacing the 260 V8 to a OEM 403, but i want to tinker with her, I am soooo excited to see her in the drive after 13 years in storage in grandpa's garage.

my question is it sat for 13 years.
1) how long does fuel last?
2) how long does the OEM fuel pump last?
3) could i use what fuel in it to tinker ($3.60gal here) cause it has 5/8 of a tank left in her?

Thanks, The Bean. :^)

 

Drain the tank. You had 5/8 of a tank of a varnish/water mix. you should probably drop it and have it cleaned out before trying to start the car.
The carb wil need some attention as well.

 

ok, thanks, of course that is if the guage is reading right. I will just get a one gallon gas can and run a fuel line from it to the fuel pump. I hope the pump diaphram are still operational. I just want to hear the exsaust system and reposition the car on drive.

 

Longest life I have got from gas is 2 years. Yours is too old and needs to be removed from the tank.
It might be usable for cleaning parts if it is not gummy or nasty.

Fuel pumps can last a LONG time.
My Ford's lasted for 28 years and 150k miles until I changed it out of prevention. My 86 Cutlass still has her original pump.

I assumed you changed the oil, or will before starting it. After then, make a good mental note of the oil level. After it get running at letting it run, check the oil often for a while. If the oil level rises and oil smells like gas, then the fuel pump diaphragm is ruptured.

 

Thanks rob, that's what I was wondering, 13 yr old fuel will go. I did check oil and it was dark, but no sludge, I will change though, woohooooo!

 

Pictures??? before and after. What about the rest of the drive train?

 

What?

 

for sure drain it. I agree with the two years maximum. Even with that, I prefer to drain it to at least half tank and fill it full with fresh gas and then drive that tank empty as soon as possible then change the fuel filter. I have half a tank of last seasons fuel in mine and I can tell it doesn't smell right when the car is running.

 

We like seeing pictures of our members' rides, whether projects or show cars.
Please post some soon!

 

Hey rob, I did try to post my pics, but they are too large and I havnt been able to reduce then yet, do you have a suggestion, I would love to show them to ya all.

 

The gas MIGHT still be good for the lawn mower, etc., if it still smells like gasoline, and not like varnish (though 13 years is probably much to long). If it smells like varnish, it won't even be great as parts cleaner, because everything will smell like that.

Thing is, burning it is by far the easiest way to get rid of it, so even if you have to mix it 50:50 with new gas, if you can get your lawn mower to run well on it, I'd recommend doing it. Next best thing is to find a place you don't go near very often (because it will stink for at least a few days) and pour it out over a wide area so it will evaporate. Paved areas in abandoned industrial zones are great for this. Do not do this if you live in California, or you will be arrested and jailed for life (because they haven't perfected the solar-powered electric chair yet).

- Eric

 

Hey there shizzy, I will for shure drain her, thanks for the info, did it stink like omg or like just an odd smell? I was just wondering. I have never embarked on a challenge like this, but it is more like a quest... I have missed this car so much. :^)

 

Pictures need to be under 1.5MB to be posted here directly.
Try downloading the micro soft "powertoys" picture resizer. It is fast and easy to downsize them. OR, just set your camera to a lower resolution (under 4MP or 2272x1704 or under) and retake them.
OR, use a hosting site like flickr or such and just link to them here.

 

OR just get a Mac, and it will make them any size you want .

- Eric

 

sweeeeet, thanks all, I will look into that. I am stoked about it, like a kid waiting to go to the toy store, geez!

 

I have 9 pc's in this house, i would like a mac at some piont, I have serviced a few... and liked them.

 

it just doesn't smell like I know it should.

 

It would smell sickly sweet, and like varnish, if you've ever used genuine, old-style varnish.

- Eric

 

I ruined a lawnmower carb with old gas. Seemed to run with less HP, then gummed right up. Not worth it, in my opinion. Gas is cheap (in lawn mower quantities.)

Dispose of your old gas properly (call your municipality). Don't be a douche and pour it down the storm drain or something.

 

Thanks justin, I wont do that, nor will I use in my mowers. I dont like it when others dump down the drain. I will have it recycled, like my waste oil.

 

I bet it was still repairable though.
I had to degum my neighbor's mower's carb after it sit too long with gas in it. Smelled funky for sure. I just pulled it, drained it, and soaked it in new fresh gas to clean it. Has run great since!

Serviced a few? Sounds like a reason not to want one. Get a SUN!



The computer holy wars have begun.................

 

Hey Rob! I created an album, but I am not sure how you can view them, I did load an Avitar pic, I will rotate them thru until she is complete.

 

Don't run gas that's THAT thick. If it is, you can just dilute it with good gas.
And, as Rob said, if it gums up, just clean it out with some GumOut or similar.

Down drains is always bad - even old gas can get places where it shouldn't and, in worst cases, can explode somewhere. Spreading it out and allowing it to evaporate, though, is safe and effective, and doesn't draw the attention of the authorities the way that spreading it out and torching it does .

- Eric

 

When you change your oil, make sure to use oil with the older formulation and zinc additives that will work in flat tappet cams...Check before you buy. EPA is trying to kill off the classic cars.

 

I agree, Thanks MDchanic.

 

Hey thanks 442 mustang, I didnt know that, thanks for the info on the additives. what do you think of the Vavolene that is for high milage cars, I think it is in a brone colored bottle? I am not sure if it has the additive though.

 

Very nice pics! I like that blue color. You got your work cut out for you now, lol!!

 

I don't know about that high mileage valvoline oil but I know that shell rotella has the right stuff. The reason for the oil companies to remove zinc and other good stuff for the flat tappet cams is these deposits would deteriorate and make things like O2 sensors and catalytic converters go bad. All of the newer engines now have roller valvetrains that don't need that friction reducer in them. I wasted a tasty small block a few years ago before I found out why the cam went bad. Good luck and can't wait to see pictures

 

Thanks cutlassgal, I am super excited to have her home. I was thinking of repainting her the same as, or a tiny bit darker, and repaint some OEM ralley wheels (My fav) the same, or the car the same and do the wheels a touch darker... what do you think?

 

Hey 442, I do like rotella oil, it is thick and a serius "cleanr type". I am a commercial driver and a fellow 40yr veteran once said to me that if I have a motor that might be nasty inside, run rotella and change after a few hundred, then run another batch for 500, then another for 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, then run normal oil, or keep using rotella. i hav'nt done it yet, but there is a good reason an 18 wheeler runs it for sometime 30,000 miles, cause it hols about 10 gallons.

 

Ha!
Mine sat for 18+ years.
That old gas was nasty...smelled like combo of gas, sour wine and cat ****....
Yuck.
But, the car did fire & run on it !
I ended up using some through my mower, highly diluted fresh with no ill effects on the mower, but got sick of the hassle so I jugged the rest and dropped it off at the local VatoZone....

 

Holy crap... 18yrs, geez! Thanks for the info, I can't wait to see what my fuel smells like. I will try to get the old girl running this weekend.

Hey, what is yours and did you restore it?

 

See sig...

 

Just changed out my factory fuel pump, not because of any problems, but because I was rebuilding my engine and decided 35 years was above and beyond the call of duty for any fuel pump. Why take chances?

 

Old gas makes for excellent weed killer.

 

... so long as your female counterpart doesn't mind the smell.

- Eric

 

I agree, 35 yrs is way to long. thats good it was still good after that long though, and I plan on replacing all that stuff, I just want to hear it run again... and change where she is sitting in the drive. I might do tomarrow, I am sooooo excited, she sounded awesome with the mufflers I got under her.

 

Meehehehehe(Peter Griffin laughing)... and a match!

 

I recommend removing the distributor and engaging the oil pump shaft with a large screwdrive shaft or similar tool and spin the oil pump to circulate oil throughout the engine prior to starting it.

 

Thanks for the good idea dundeal, I will try to find that shaft.