After a long lay off, getting it home
Discussion
Buying a car shortly, it's been stood for possibly three years or maybe more, it starts, made it to the MoT station and passed but it's hicking and stuttering.
It's a much modded engine, we're suspecting blocked injectors, old fuel, possibly dirt in the fuel and maybe a blocked filter. Of course it could be electrical (Emerald electronics).
Assuming it is one of the fuel related problems, what are my chances of filling the tank with some new fuel and getting it home 250 miles away. Obviously, a filter isn't going to unblock but the injectors? What damage could it do running lean on one or more cylinders I wonder?
Or I could just get it recovered but that would be an extra cost to me just getting it back., money that could be spent on the car.
Do I feel lucky?
It's a much modded engine, we're suspecting blocked injectors, old fuel, possibly dirt in the fuel and maybe a blocked filter. Of course it could be electrical (Emerald electronics).
Assuming it is one of the fuel related problems, what are my chances of filling the tank with some new fuel and getting it home 250 miles away. Obviously, a filter isn't going to unblock but the injectors? What damage could it do running lean on one or more cylinders I wonder?
Or I could just get it recovered but that would be an extra cost to me just getting it back., money that could be spent on the car.
Do I feel lucky?
Skyedriver said:
Buying a car shortly, it's been stood for possibly three years or maybe more, it starts, made it to the MoT station and passed but it's hicking and stuttering.
It's a much modded engine, we're suspecting blocked injectors, old fuel, possibly dirt in the fuel and maybe a blocked filter. Of course it could be electrical (Emerald electronics).
Assuming it is one of the fuel related problems, what are my chances of filling the tank with some new fuel and getting it home 250 miles away. Obviously, a filter isn't going to unblock but the injectors? What damage could it do running lean on one or more cylinders I wonder?
Or I could just get it recovered but that would be an extra cost to me just getting it back., money that could be spent on the car.
Do I feel lucky?
I wouldn't, if it's misfiring, surprised it passed emissions.It's a much modded engine, we're suspecting blocked injectors, old fuel, possibly dirt in the fuel and maybe a blocked filter. Of course it could be electrical (Emerald electronics).
Assuming it is one of the fuel related problems, what are my chances of filling the tank with some new fuel and getting it home 250 miles away. Obviously, a filter isn't going to unblock but the injectors? What damage could it do running lean on one or more cylinders I wonder?
Or I could just get it recovered but that would be an extra cost to me just getting it back., money that could be spent on the car.
Do I feel lucky?
There's no way it could pass any legit MOT if it is misfiring.
I would be surprised if injectors were a problem at only 3 years.
Fuel maybe, it would certainly do no harm to remove the old fuel, and fill with new.
But just get it and give it a check over. See if it misfires sometimes, all the time etc. Then determine if one cylinder, or all cylinders.
Of course, find out history, did it even run correctly when parked up ? Are you buying this as a total unknown ?
Find out what the emissions results were at the MOT test
I would be surprised if injectors were a problem at only 3 years.
Fuel maybe, it would certainly do no harm to remove the old fuel, and fill with new.
But just get it and give it a check over. See if it misfires sometimes, all the time etc. Then determine if one cylinder, or all cylinders.
Of course, find out history, did it even run correctly when parked up ? Are you buying this as a total unknown ?
Find out what the emissions results were at the MOT test
It's a car from 1973, MoT not a legal requirement and emissions by visible smoke only.
Owner deceased, friend of owner selling on behalf of widow.
Huge list of mods carried out but we think it last ran, except for in and out the garage and trip to MoT a month ago, about three year ago.
Mods include conversion to injection from carbs.
Owner deceased, friend of owner selling on behalf of widow.
Huge list of mods carried out but we think it last ran, except for in and out the garage and trip to MoT a month ago, about three year ago.
Mods include conversion to injection from carbs.
gazza285 said:
It can destroy your engine. Melted pistons/ heads/plugs, broken rings/ring lands, head gaskets, exhaust valves, cylinder walls, con rods and bearings.
Other than that, crack on…
very unlikely on an old crusty n/a engine he's just driving a little to try and get it running.Other than that, crack on…
But if he has never seen it run right, just start with basics. Hope that it might run, but equally assume it never has run correctly and start from there.
gazza285 said:
I agree, but I wouldn’t be driving 250 miles before I knew it was running right.
true, but anyone would be a bit mad to try and drive such a new purchase that distance.....And I've been there and done it, and had many dramas along the way LOL. Except mine was laid up for a lot longer than 3 years ( this was 20 years ago ). And I was very mad to try.
stevieturbo said:
gazza285 said:
I agree, but I wouldn’t be driving 250 miles before I knew it was running right.
true, but anyone would be a bit mad to try and drive such a new purchase that distance.....And I've been there and done it, and had many dramas along the way LOL. Except mine was laid up for a lot longer than 3 years ( this was 20 years ago ). And I was very mad to try.
BTW, it's not a "crusty old engine" it's a bit special and I hope in good internal health. Just sat around waiting for too long.
Anyway transporter arranged, thanks for the "don't be so f---ing stupid" type comments, you're right.
I'll pass the hat around for contributions later.
GreenV8S said:
Skyedriver said:
BTW, it's not a "crusty old engine" it's a bit special and I hope in good internal health. Just sat around waiting for too long.
In that case it's worth a bit of pampering before you put it to work. Getting it transported was a good call.Just because it is mechanically sound currently doesn't mean it will survive in the same condition after 250 miles of misfiring/detonating/lean running etc.
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