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Reviving a car that has stood for 5 years?!?
tegwin - 4/8/08 at 11:55 AM

For better of for worse I have just bought myself a TVR 2500m....circa 1975.. 2.5L straight 6...

Has not been used for 5 years, been garaged and pushed around occasionally but not started....

Im guessing the carbs will be full of gunk....the cylinder liners will be rusty and most of the engine aux parts will be gunked up and are rusty in places on the outside..

What is the best way to re-commision an engine like this?

Its tempting to pull the top of the engine appart and clean and paint everything, but if it aint broke..dont fix it..

I have to say its quite tempting to put a more modern engine and G-Box in it...Need a modernish V6....

standard might be better..and less work!

[Edited on 4/8/08 by tegwin]

Mr Whippy - 4/8/08 at 12:03 PM

I had a bug engine that lay in my garage for 11 years and got buried in junk and sawdust. Popped it in and it started straight away happy as anything. Run a strong mix of redex in the fuel and change the oil that should do the trick. After a few hours give it a damn good thrashing to cleen the valves.

whitestu - 4/8/08 at 12:04 PM

I'd be surprised if the engine internals are rusty.

Stu

clairetoo - 4/8/08 at 12:04 PM

I'd pull the plugs out , and squirt some oil into each cylinder - leave that to soak while cleaning out the carbs , then try turning it over by hand .
If it turns easily , bung on a new battery and spin it over (minus the plugs to clear the oil out ) , chuck in some new plugs and see if it will start

bilbo - 4/8/08 at 12:10 PM

quote:
Originally posted by clairetoo
I'd pull the plugs out , and squirt some oil into each cylinder - leave that to soak while cleaning out the carbs , then try turning it over by hand .
If it turns easily , bung on a new battery and spin it over (minus the plugs to clear the oil out ) , chuck in some new plugs and see if it will start


I did exactly this on an old pinto that had been stood for over 10 years - didn't even change the cam belt and it all started fine. Only problem I had was most of the diaphragms in the carb had perished.

johnston - 4/8/08 at 12:11 PM

I started an old cavalier that had stayed outside for 3 for years just squirted drop of oil down the bores, turned her by hand stuck plugs back in drop of petrol down the carb set of jump leads and away she went.

And from what i was told the only thing fella that bought her done to engine was plugs belt oil and filters

adithorp - 4/8/08 at 12:24 PM

I'd do as Clair suggests. Put a rag over the plug holes when you turn it other wise you'll have a mess. Drain the petrol from the tank as it'll probably be off. Once your happy it runs change the oil.

adrian

SeaBass - 4/8/08 at 12:31 PM

Quality - you got one!! Lets see some pics no matter how shabby it is... Is it the one with a few bits a pieces missing?

I would have thought that 5 years is nothing really... Follow advice above and let us know how you get on.

tegwin - 4/8/08 at 12:41 PM

It is the one with a few bits missing...Its still on the trailer after we got back very late last night....The back end is on a swiviling caster bogey....you try securing that bugger onto a trailer....not fun!

Will whip it off the trailer and get some pics up later

Might even have it running, but I doubt it

02GF74 - 4/8/08 at 02:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by adithorp
I'd do as Clair suggests. Put a rag over the plug holes when you turn it other wise you'll have a mess.
adrian


very true, as I found out to my cost.

and then putting rags into the plug hole ending with one or 2 getting sucked into the cylinder!! (I found that out too!)

tegwin - 4/8/08 at 09:29 PM

Pictures and some blurb here:

http://locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=94543&page=&contribmessage=none