My dad owns a 1974 Pontiac Grand Prix with a 400 engine. The vehicle has
been sitting forever, he hasn't started it in a long time. The question I
have is, what do I have to do to start it up? Besides putting in a new
battery, changing oil, antifreeze, tires, etc. Do I have to remove the
spark plugs and squirt some oil into the cylinder to prevent cylinder wall
damage etc? The car has been parked for years now. My dad had no use for it
so it has just been sitting in the garage, rotting away. I am now trying to
revive it. The car has 21000 original miles on it and it would be a nice
car to put in car shows in the original class but I have to get it started
first. Thanks for any help. Please reply here or to my email. Thanks once
again.

Ruben Flores wrote:


Definitely pull the plugs, squirt in a little oil, then try turning it over
before replacing the plugs. Dump the contents of the gas tank and refill
with fresh fuel. You might have to rebuild the carb if the gaskets and
accelerator pump have dried out. Once you have it running, before trying to
drive it pull the wheels and give the brakes a good look over, and repack
the front wheel bearings. Look over all the brake hoses and since it's been
sitting so long, flush the brake fluid and bleed the system. Grease all the
suspension zerks and don't forget to change the differential lube.


Good luck, sounds like a fun project.

Good advice here. The styling on the 74 GP is just awesome, it'll be a great
project. Let's just hope the engine isn't stuck.

"FBR" <firebirdracing (AT) NOSPAMyahoo (DOT) com> wrote

Joe did truly imply:

We use to have an old distributor shaft that could be 'chucked' into a
drill, then inserted into the block and prime the oil pumpp before
starting an engine.
This was for a small-block Chevy, dont know if it works on Pontiacs or
not.

Rebuttals?

In article <IWCkd.82183$Kl3.47494 (AT) twister (DOT) socal.rr.com>,
geoffdubya (AT) some (DOT) rr.com says...
Nope. Chebbie uses a different style setup(sh*ttier, of course) for the
oil pump drive shaft.

Chebbie uses a slot which makes it an absolute b*tch to install the
distributor without the oil pump shaft positioned exactly.

Pontiac uses a nice V-shape which basically allows you to install the
distributor in a couple seconds ...

--
__________________________________________________ _______________
Dennis Smith

-1971 Trans Am - 455 H.O. - M21 4speed - Cameo white/blue stripe-
< http://ps2page.tripod.com/my71ta/tapage.html >
-1973 Trans Am - 455 - TH400 auto - Buccaneer red-
-1984 Trans Am - 5.0 L - TH700R4 auto - Royal blue/silver aero-
__________________________________________________ _______________

I agree with everything that FBR said, but I would add that you ought to
give the carb a once over, and replace the fuel filter. Also, when you do
first try and start it, WD40 works well for squirting into the plug holes.
It works well as a lubricant, and a softer starting fluid which may help to
get the engine started.

"FBR" <firebirdracing (AT) NOSPAMyahoo (DOT) com> wrote