Long time no start...

[Raymo]

Hey guys, I've been searching for a donor truck for my chevy project and I've come across one for cheap, but it's been sitting for 3 years without being so much as cranked over. I've seen people start these trucks after 1 year no problem... but I was wondering if this sounds like it would be too much work just to get running again on a tight budget? Do you think I'll have to pull the pump or have to deal with dried up seals through-out?

[Richie O]

My 89 sat for 3 years in my basement and when I hit the key ( after I turned engine by hand to make sure it was not stuck ) it fired up like I had just shut it off. I had no issues with anything. It was in my heated basement so that might have helped.

[VEfreak]

fuel in the lines could have gone bad. I'd bleed it before firing it if i was you. If it has been through deep freezes there might be water in the fuel. I wouldn't know anything about that though since i live in cali.

[Raymo]

Oh it's deffinatly been in some deep freezes. The nice thing is it's been sitting on pavement and there's nothing dripping on the ground, so thats a good sign. I guess best thing to do now is make sure it turns over at least by hand...

[1991cummins]

yah, if i were you i would drain the fuel and put fresh fuel in it, my truck sat from 92 until 94 when we bought it, and they fuel tank looked like a clay pond... so at least check the quality of the fuel in the tank and lines... make sure oil and stuff is good to... basicly all the fluids, you dont want to destroy a good cummins cause you were too lazy to check fluids you know ,

good luck with your build!

[PToombs]

I bought one that had sat for 4-5 years. I added oil 'cause it was way low, pumped the LP 10-12 times, and it fired right up. I don't even think it turned a whole turn.
Of course, when it got freezing cold, I had some stalling problems. Then I cleaned the water and algae out of the fuel tank and it ran like a top.

[Raymo]

Good deal! I was really worried about it being a major project if I got it... but these are some reassuring replys... thanks! Now all I have to do is wait for the squirelly old guy to decide on a final price...

[RumbleFish]

I bought one that had sat for 4-5 years. I added oil 'cause it was way low, pumped the LP 10-12 times, and it fired right up. I don't even think it turned a whole turn.
Of course, when it got freezing cold, I had some stalling problems. Then I cleaned the water and algae out of the fuel tank and it ran like a top.

this the same one that pissed atf all over the ground when it fired?

[PToombs]

Nope, motor oil! I wondered why it had about 2 cases worth of quart bottles in the box. I found out when it started, it was pissing a stream from the bell housing.

[redneckroot]

If it was in a climate that freezes i'd take my antifreeze tester with me and check it before I bought it. A few years back my brother bought a ford tractor that had been sitting, the motor rolled over fine we got it home ended up having a cracked block from freezing.