428 sitting for 15 years how to get it started?

[James B]

First let me introduce myself. My name is James, I have a 73 corvette mostly mess around with chevys. My dad has a 66 Q code convertible that he bought about 8 years ago to restore. It hasn't been worked on in about 5 years because other priorities. Now that I am in college I believe he is going to start working on it again. The car is I think "Sahara brown?" with cinnamon colored interior, Its got power everything, cruise control, and air conditioning.

My question is this, How do we go about trying to get the motor in working order? It was rebuilt in 1990 and has not been turned over since. We sprayed some marvelous mystery oil in the cylinders but it still will not turn over. What should we do in order to free it up? And what else should be done prior to starting the engine? Thanks,

James

I got a 65 that sat for 25 years. I put WD40 in the cyclinders, took off vavle covers and sprayed down the valves. 20 min later I put a socket and drive on the crank bolt and with a lot of MUSCLE I free'd it by hand that way!

www.painterslane.com

[Harley Eaton]

My suggestion would be to remove the flywheel/converter cover and try to move the crankshaft by prying on the starter gear with a pry or screwdriver. The Marvel Mystry Oil was a good idea.

[swi66]

I bought a 66 Bird, 390 that had been rebuilt, but left sitting for quite some time. My cousin drove it for a few thousand miles and sold it to me. I drove it for a month and the cam and lifters went bad. Either no assembley lube was used, or cam not broken in properly, or all lube ran off the cam...............motor now apart.

Another issue, is that Transmission internal seals have gone bad...........need to send tranny out for a rebuild.

Sitting for years is bad for any car.............

swi66