Car not started for two years: Advice, In "cold storage" in Michigan Options

[orthobiz]

I'm getting my mint 74 1.8 liter soon, and as some of you may know, I looked hard this winter before I found my perfect ride. Along the way I found out about a car in Grand Rapids, Michigan, owned by a fellow who spends the winter in Florida. He's now back in Michigan and is getting ready to sell his car. It's a yellow 74 or 75 (he's not really sure) and it may or may not have some rust ("a little around the turn signals"), etc.

So, now I'm thinking "daily driver" because I've gotten this 914 bug really, really bad this year. What could be bad about having TWO cars???

The problem is he has not started it for two years. Probably has untreated gas in the tank, who knows how much gas. And it was stored in a covered pole barn that is unheated (which means zero degrees in Michigan winter).

Can you just charge the battery and try to start it up? Does the tank need to be drained and the lines changed or flushed or what??? Any idea of how long sitting is "too long?"

Thanks for the advice!

Paul

[RoninEclipse2G]

to be safe I'd drain the tank, inspect the hard lines and replace the rubber fuel lines and filter. that old and stored in cold winters the battery is probably nothing more than a dead core. check the battery cables for corrosion too. if it had oil, I would change that too and prime the system by cranking the engine without fuel or spark. any other suggestions guys?

[jd74914]

if it had oil, I would change that too

If it doesn't have oil I'd be scared (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chairfall.gif)

Anyways, 2 years isn't that long a time. I would do like everyone says and put some fresh gas in, get a new battery, and try to start it. First you might want to try turning it over by hand and putting a little mystery oil in the cylinders just to be safe.