Question about my "other dent"

[Workin' Rig]

Some of you remeber the pics i posted of my 77 LTD II that has been sitting in my dads garage since 2006 or so....

So..what my plan is (and im sticking to it this time) is to pull it out of the garage and get her running to use as my Daily Driver (the damned thing got like 22MPG hwy), was comfy, and was fun to drive....

I sidelined it in 06 due to a timing chain issue, i redid the whole top end of the engine, heads, lifters, pushrods, etc etc, but never changed the timing chain....because i couldnt get the crank pulley off.

So now i want your opinions....

I got on car-part.com and did some searching and 351W's are super plentiful with decent mileage on them for 4-600 bucks. I am wondering if i might be further ahead to change the whole engine instead of getting the one thats already there running again. The reason im wondering is because that engine has sat for 6 going on 7 years without even being started....i turned it over with a ratchet the other day and it still turned free....

BUT....im a little nervous about the top end i reassembled It was my first somewhat major engine tear down....

Also, if its going to by my DD i dont want the thing having serious engine faliure after a week....and then im spending the money for an engine anyways....

Also...what other things should i check on the car? Its been inside the whole time its been stored, i dont think any mice have gotton into it (if they have i dont see any signs of them, but i havent looked real hard yet)....

Ill keep you guys informed of the progress....i pry wont start on it till the spring....

 

[m78]

What was the question ?

 

[BuzzGun79]

Run it Workin...Why go out and get another motor if you rebuilt the one you have?...just remove the plugs and squirt some oil in the cylinders to ,prevent dry starting..along with clean fluids and go from there.I have had no trouble getting engines to run that have sat for long periods of time.I also sold a 351 several yrs ago from my 77 that sat in my garage for 5yrs...its on the road running in another truck without any teardown what so ever.

 

[Workin' Rig]

So im basically nervous about nothing? All that engine needs (hopefully) is the timing chain, Carb, and a alternator. Plus im going to have to pry go to a boneyard and pull all the bolts from another engine (they have seemed to disappear)

 

[LEB Ben]

Spending 4-600 for an unknown quantity for a known quantity, doesn't make sense to me. I've pulled engines that have been sitting in fields for some time and got them running in vehicles before...so one that has been in a car that's been in the garage, I wouldn't worry about. Get yourself a pulley puller, grab a cloyes double roller, grab a gasket set and consider yourself done. Pull the plugs and squirt Type F down in the cylinders, rotate the engine by hand...feeling for any potential catches...and just keep working it until it rotates smooth.

 

[Workin' Rig]

I went today and pulled it out of the garage, the mice havent had their way with it believe it or not, they did get some insulation out of the back between the trunk and the back seat, but other then that all the important stuff (wires) are intact. All it needs is a good wipe down and wash to be as good as it once was.

The back brake was locked a little bit but freed up once i drug it a lil.

The engine still turns freely by hand, i rotated it a few revolutions and it seemed to be nice and smooth still...

I think were in business.

Pics to Follow.

 

[dustybumpers]

Check all brake rubber lines, they usually fail after storage. I would replace the rear brake cylinders, they usually fail. Bleed the brakes with fresh brake fluid.

Like said before, buy a damper puller, and use an impact gun, the damper will come off. Buy an install tool too, you have to put it back on. Harbor freight can supply those without braking the bank.

You may want to put an inline fuel filter on it, the lovely new gas we get will disolve any old gas deposits left from storeage, and gum everything up.

 

[Mil1ion]

Pull the spark plugs and squirt some oil in each cylinder

Again turn it by hand

Pull the coil wire and crank the engine over with the starter

Do this for about 30 seconds about 5 times

Put the plugs back in ..attach the coil wore and start it

Note: No fire in the hole until it is lubricated very well

 

[BuzzGun79]

You Can also prelube the engine by pulling the distributor,and rotating the oil pump shaft with a 1/4 drive socket and extension in a drill,If you want to get real technical,really not necessary in your case but an fyi if you choose to do it...just dont get carried away and lose the shaft to the oil pan.this will prelube the internals & bearings before you crank it.I do this on performance rebuilds that cost $$$ youll be fine...Great advice from all to follow.

 

[Workin' Rig]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Ive gotton cars running before that sat for a while but mainly just enough to drive onto a trailer under their own power

I am going to change the gas tank, it had a seam leak and i couldnt put more then 1/2 tank in it. Plus i think there was still a little gas in the tank which is pry varnish by now.

I didnt think about the rubber brake hoses....but thats a good idea as well.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Workin' Rig]

Here are the pics i promised....after sitting in the garage since 2006...

The tractor driver is my dad lol

Yanked it with colorado.

 

[DNFXDLI]

Looks like the body is in pretty good shape.

 

[Workin' Rig]

It is actually a really solid car overall. The frame even has the original undercoating on it....i just gotta get the engine going good again....which im glad for cause im alot better with mechanics then cosmetics.

 

[LEB Ben]

Looks like a great amount of potential there. The slotted mags are a nice touch.

 

[Workin' Rig]

There gonna look real nice with a new set of BFG Radial T/A on them

 

[primetime]

Man, I`m diggin that Workin. You need to get on this with the quickness.

 

[BuzzGun79]

Indeed a very solid piece Workin.....definatlely worth saving!!..just a good cleanup,waxing and detailing would do justice...not that hard just time..I realy loved my LTD II...Their gone up here today...Good luck Man!!

 

[Workin' Rig]

Come this spring im going to start real good on it, i dont have a warm place to work on stuff

BuzzGun, I ran across this one by pure luck, me and my dad were going somewhere and i seen it on the side of the road in someones yard for sale back in 2003 when i was 15, the first car i remember riding in was a 77 LTD II that my parents had that was a royal blue 4dr brougham with all the goodies. I always loved that car, we quit driving it after my dad ran it into a ditch into a tree on an icy road all it did was put a small dent in the fender When the tow truck came to get it out it slipped off the winch and fell and landed hard. The trunk and back doors never did shut right again (my dad figured they bent the frame).

But anyways....you can find them for sale, there a couple on craigslist right now (one is a 4dr in dayton with 35K Original i would LOVE to have) so there not completly gone, but definatly rarer then the big LTD'S and their thunderbird counterparts.

 

[bucks77ford]

That car is just awesome.

 

[Workin' Rig]

Another question....

I went to dearborn classics to look for rear springs for it (i think the originals are a little on the worn side), and they list them for the 77-79 Ranchero, i know the Ranchero was built on the LTD II platform BUT i think it was the station wagon platform....anyone know if the springs are the same?