20 year slumber

[frazerman]

Ned some help/ideas please. Just bought a 1954 Kaiser Late Special that was nicely restored in 1980, shown a few times, driven during the nice months until 1995,  then parked in a dry, nice garage and not touched until today. Motor turns, antifreeze is gone, a little gas still in tank. My goal is to get it running and cleaned up to drive and enjoy. Any suggestions as to where to start and what to do first? I appreciate the help!

[boatingbill]

Change oil and filter, add coolant, clean oil bath filter, add fresh gas, pull spark plugs and squirt marine fogging oil in each cylinder.
Then crank engine over to lubricate cylinders to avoid a dry start. Install spark plugs and try to start. Full pump is probably shot so
you might have to squirt a little gas into the carb to see if the engine fires. Carb may need to be cleaned and furl lines flushed. If
someone has added a in line full filter with a paper element over the years replace it too. Good Luck ! KF products are known to fire
up after many years of sitting so it should not be that difficult.

[r1lark]

boatingbill gave you a great list. Here is one more item - look very closely at the gas in the tank. Preferably, attempt to drain the tank by removing the rubber flex hose that connects the tank to the metal fuel line. That gas may have evaporated down to an evil gummy stinking mess, and you don't want that in your carb.

If the gas drains out freely, get all that you can out. Unhook the connection between the metal fuel line and fuel pump, and blow the line out with compressed air. (Might also be a good time to check the metal line for leaks by using a hand-held vacuum pump [Mighty-vac] to pull a vacuum on the line; if it holds vacuum you should be good. If you can't pull a vacuum on the line or if the vacuum leaks down quickly, you have a leak somewhere in the line.) Hook everything back up, and put some fresh gas in the tank.

If the gas doesn't drain out freely, consider cleaning the tank out.

Good luck, and keep us posted on progress!

[kaiserkid]

First drain all the gas out from the tank. There is a drain plug on the gas tank on the driver's side. Disconnect the gas line from the pump and blow back the gas into the tank. Reattach the line and plug the tank. Put 5 gallons of fresh gas into the tank. Change the oil and the filter in the engine. Since you said the engine rolls over that is good news. Here we go, put a couple tablespoons of gas down the throat of the carb and try to start the engine. It may take a few more tries with the gas down the carb until gas get from the tank. Once you get the engine running you will need to check the fluids in the transmission and rear end. Before you drive the car check the brakes! Change the brake fluid by bleeding all four wheel cylinders. You will use about a pint of brake fluid. Now you are ready for a drive. Go slow at first and make sure the brakes are working and not pulling to the left or right. A slight pull at first may just be rust on the drums. Good luck.

[frazerman]

Thanks for the ideas. Will try and get a photo and keep you up to date.

[frazerman]

Need to buy new water and fuel pump for my late special. Where is the best place to buy? Is it better to have rebuilt? Thanks for the help!

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

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[kaiserkid]

I would rebuild the fuel pump. Kits are inexpensive and they are usually ethanol resistant. When done rebuilding you know it will fit!

[boatingbill]

Is the water pump leaking or squealing? If not, why replace it ?

[51Deluxe]

I agree with Boating Bill on lubricating the cylinders. You don't want it starting up dry after all that time dormant.