nwe hello and help required please

[Oshea67]

Hi everyone, I’m back after almost 25 years, I had two stags back in the mid 80’s when I was about 20!! and was a club member back then.
Stags have always been my dream weekend car, but not practical with children, dogs and working.
I have been left a stag by my mother in law, that has not moved or been started in 30 years, it’s been in a garage, has some rust on the front wheel arches and a few bubbles here and there, but in a good condition.
The hard top has been in situ for the last 30 years so the soft-top will be shot.
It’s been pulled out on to the drive and covered over whilst we have some building work carried out to the house, then back to the garage.
It’s an R reg manual 43000 on the clock 3 owners and totally original, no damp inside.
What do I do first? The exhaust is rotten, I’ve insured it....would love to try and start it?
Please help
Paul

[KOY 23]

Paul.

Welcome back.

is the engine seized?

John.

[Oshea67]

Im not sure, as i said been in the garage since 82, was told to try and jump start it?

paul

[martin]

Hi Paul, glad your affection for these old girls continues. Firstly, get the plugs out, and get some diesel into the bores, bear in mind you'll be replacing the oil. Give it about 3 days, then see if you can turn the engine over by hand on the crankshaft bolt. It's quite likely that the bores are rusty, so you may not be looking at a long service engine. If she'll turn over, spin on the starter to get the diesel out. Now, new oil and filter, fresh petrol, new spark plugs and check the points. Obviously make sure you've got coolant. Crank the engine, with the HT king lead off, you don't want her to start yet, until the oil light goes out, now put the king lead back and start up. If she won't it's likely a fuel issue, but come back on here when you've got that far. Martin.

[martin]

error

[new to this]

paul

your not far from me (harrow) good luck with the car

dave

[stag8manod]

Hello Paul. My suggestion is. Change the oil and filter. Take all the plugs out. squirt a little light oil down each bore, leave the plugs out and turn it over for several minutes to circulate the new oil through the engine before attempting to start it.
Cheers Ian A

[singapore stag]

paul

your not far from me (harrow) good luck with the car

dave

I am in Southall even nearer....Welcome to the SOC.

[new to this]

I am in Southall even nearer....Welcome to the SOC.

your nearer hayes

dave

[SUTTY1]

Hi paul, welcome and good luck with the car.

I'd follow martins advice with 1 bit added. Remove the smaller water hoses around the inlet manifold and look for corrosion.
I realise no 2 cars are the same but i base this advice on the stag i bought this year that has been laid-up since 1982 too.
Unfortunately mine had seized and engine is now removed. On removing these pipes and waterpump cover etc I found very heavy, gritty, sludge deposits that I wouldnt want to pump round the engine.

Hopefully yours will have had a better quality of anti-freeze in.

On a brighter side I too thought the soft top would be shot. I removed the hard top, sprayed penetrating oil on all frame jionts, left to soak for a few days, hey presto roof came up and cover is in fantastic condition. Just needed a bit off stretching

steve