The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop longest sitting 216 chevy thats ben running again???

looking at a 46 chevy 1/2 ton with an all original 216 thats not stuck in it just sat for YEARS... everything still hooked up 6volt, any pointers on getting it started and running again??? thinking flush out radiator and block rebuild carb fluch and clean fuel tank and get new tune up parts new battery and fire it up right????? whats the longest sat idle 216 anyone has got running again thats usable

These old engines can last virtually forever it seems. My sat for 17 years before I dropped in about 100 bucks and drove it of the shed it was sitting in. My advice is this rebuild the entire fuel system. Blow out the fuel lines, rebuild the carb, clean repair replace the fuel pump, pull the gas tank clean it and seal it (I didn't do this and went through a heck of a tough time keeping the gunk from the tank from clogging the system do it sooner then later). When this done before you drive it away check the brakes if it has set awhile they will need work. All told it is an afternoons work and little else. Also I would recomend changing the oil, coolant fluid, and flush the raditor.
Eventually a rebuild should be consider but if the vehicle was parked with low miles this doesn't need to be to soon unless it is to become a daily driver.

Oh by clean repair replace the fuel pump I mean choose one based on its current condition.

I would also pull the brakes apart and make sure the wheel cylinders are free and will return. If they are not, pressure from the master cylinder could cause them to freeze up in the applied position, making drum removal a real problem.

Mine sat about 20 years. Get rid of ALL traces of old gas. Put fresh oil in it & fire it up. You'll prolly haveta go through the carb.

before taking up time doing the gas tank/line thing why not drop a line into a gallon container/jug and go from there. If it runs ok then the gas tank cleaning will be a much more joyful chore.

My red '42 has not been started in about 20 years also. That is one of the many things that I want to get accomplished this spring or summer 2008.

John

Swing by your local lawnmower shop and pick up a plastic tank from a riding mower. A gas tank with 20 years of gunk is going to be a bear to get clean......and the mower tank can be hung up on the firewall with enough gas to get all the preliminary stuff finished and even works for a cruise around the block.

When I go to check out a project vehicle I carry the little tank to verify that it was "running when I parked it."

Dave

I bought a 40 from my brother in law that had set for 36 years. It turned right over & i got it running like Achip said. These old engines had cast iron pistons & they didn,t corrode to the cyl. walls like aluminum ones do. It mostly depends on the climate conditions & where it is stored.

Dave,
That's a great idea with the lawnmower tank. There's a lawnmower graveyard I frequent in the spring. Think I'll see if I can find one with a shutoff.
Dan

this 41 truck with the 216 i picked up was sitting for 21 years and was put away with a bent rod and cracked rocker........i picked it up......rolled it in the shop......put a new fuel pump on it...new lines from fuel pump to carb....had a old beer bottle put some aviation fuel in it and sat it down next to the fuel pump.....turned the motor over by hand.......disconnected radiator hoses........primed the carb........started in 2 seconds and idled in 20 seconds.......and that was with the bent push rod and cracked rocker with a frozen exhaust valve........i now call the truck...."peanut".......you cant kill these old girls............

my suburban sat since 1968 and i got it started in 2003. so after 35 i disconected the fuel line to the gas tank and hook one up to a gas can, put a 12 volt battery and coil and it started. then i took out the oil pan plug and let the oil drain for a week. and put new oil. the gas tank need to be replaced. i will be cruisin it tommarrow

It was about 10 years for mine. When it started it was one of the sweetest sounds that I ever heard!

These old sixes like lots of choke to get up and running. When you are trying to get it going, hearing the starter speed up means it is getting a little help from the motor! It will probably do that a bit and then catch. Make sure that you have a bit of throttle too. Normally the cam on the choke link will supply that.