Start up paranoia?..long....

[Gyrhead]

I've been scanning the old threads for some time now, looking for pitfalls that might jump up and bite me when I get the 86 2R put back together. Before I started this mini-NOS restoration, or rather a freshening up, I started the car up after 15 years at least in mostly dead storage and it actually fired and ran well. Then I heard this "tick, tick, tick" that turned into "fwap, fwap, fwap" and I'm like "what the hell?" and then I looked into the engine compartment just in time to see the fan belts fray and spin off..neato. Other than that, the car ran pretty well at idle. Smooth, typical exhaust scent, not too rich and no oil smell, no big puffs of blue smoke from bad seals, and even with the rancid gas in the tank, it still idled pretty well. I ran Mobil 1 synthetic oil in it from day one new and honestly did oil changes every 3k, but I'm not sure that that made any difference.

Now, after reading all these posts about rusty gas tanks and frayed wiring, rusty oil and coolant lines and bad TFIs and oil leaks...and bad turbos, honestly.. it's got me a little paranoid about things I may have missed. Am I freaking out unnecessarily? What are the top 10 things I ought to look at engine-wise that aren't so obvious for a long-term stored car?

I've already replaced e-brake cables, belts, hoses, some brake lines and plan on doing the calipers and rotors and a timing belt, so I'm pretty covered there. I just did the clutch and new cables, all Ford. The car was indoor stored and I just did a full tune up with Motorcraft parts including plugs, wires, cap, rotor, pcv and replaced a bunch of sensors and other stuff including starter, alternator, voltage regulator, coolant sensor, O2 sensor, oil sender, batt cables, VAM hose (thanks Ken!!) fan motor (mine was locked up), fuel regulator, TPS, I/C hoses (thanks Eric), thermostat, thermostat housing, coolant fan switch, fuel filter. knock sensor, flushed out the VAM and I/C. I should also do valve seals, but since I've had no oil apparent leakdown or blue puffs at first startup, I'm putting it off till I tear down the motor this winter after the reunion.

Also, what is the best, cost effective scan tool I can get for diagnostics work in the event I have problems. The car had a wicked stumble/miss when I last drove it six years ago but all indications from my earlier posts were that genuine Motorcraft tune-up parts were long overdue. In the event that the tune up parts didn't fix it, I'll need to start digging. I've been reading up on the codes and am a little confused about the differences between KOEO and KOER codes but figure I should just admit my ignorance and keep learning. I do have Mike's 2.3 book and that's a good place to start, but without a scan tool I'm a bit in the dark. For god sakes, I don't even know where to plug it into. On the Chevy junk I've worked on, there is an ALDL connector on the harness...Sorry for all the rookie questions. Just looking to learn. Thanks and sorry for the long thread.

[SVOeric]

Yes-- you are being a bit paranoid


add to your top 10 list -- the 2" dogbone clutch cable

How full was the gastank when you pulled it out of storage?
once you've run the car for about a month, a NEW fuel filter is probably a really good idea.

Sounds like you have done a good job of bringing it out of storage. Don't be too woried ..

KOEO key on engine off -- this will show you STORED codes -- codes that have poped up in the past...

KOER key on engine running -- you pull these codes with the engine running

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Why not drive it on a few very short local jaunts and write down any observations and complaints. Then trailer it to the reunion and we'll all argue what to do about it. I'll check with the airlines to see if my Snap-On scanner will pass the screening for carry on luggage.

[Gyrhead]

Thanks all

I guess I'm a bit paranoid. Eric, I did swap the dogbone out but thanks. Pat, I'm going to trailer to the reunion just the same so I'll be safe there. I'm just afraid I'll be bummed if the car craps out down there. I guess it's a bit like the house across the street from the fire station catching fire. There will be plenty of experts close at hand on hand to solve the problem at the reunion. That scanner might attract some attention. I carried a tension meter (used to measure tension in big cables) once through Denver International and I swear that they elevated the terror warning one notch when I went through security. It didn't help that the instrument was in a silver James Bondesque metal briefcase! Yikes!

OK, I'll settle down. Thanks all.

Paul

[KevinK]

Don't overlook replacing the antifreeze every 3-5 years. While you are at it get one of those sacrifical anodes for the radiator cap. Prevents things from corroding away.

[140cilx]

I'm just afraid I'll be bummed if the car craps out down there.

Paul, many of us can tell you no matter how pristine the car runs for years beforehand, it may just punish you at the reunion.

Never had a hiccup outta my car until I was on the way to the dragstrip while at the reunion last year. Then my ignition module died, and the battery failed, and my fan switch wiring harness burned up (not good for next day autox) back to back.

I had JayG for company w/ our cars side by side who had worse problems than me (new rack and pinion install at the hotel).

Great thing is, you are surrounded by guys present that know EVERYTHING about these cars so diagnosis and fixes are a snap.

Surely no problems this year!

[8T6 SVO]

Re: Start up paranoia?..long....

Originally posted by Gyrhead
Now, after reading all these posts about rusty gas tanks and frayed wiring, rusty oil and coolant lines and bad TFIs and oil leaks...and bad turbos, honestly.. it's got me a little paranoid about things I may have missed. Am I freaking out unnecessarily? What are the top 10 things I ought to look at engine-wise that aren't so obvious for a long-term stored car?

I've already replaced e-brake cables, belts, hoses, some brake lines and plan on doing the calipers and rotors and a timing belt, so I'm pretty covered there. I just did the clutch and new cables, all Ford. The car was indoor stored and I just did a full tune up with Motorcraft parts including plugs, wires, cap, rotor, pcv and replaced a bunch of sensors and other stuff including starter, alternator, voltage regulator, coolant sensor, O2 sensor, oil sender, batt cables, VAM hose (thanks Ken!!) fan motor (mine was locked up), fuel regulator, TPS, I/C hoses (thanks Eric), thermostat, thermostat housing, coolant fan switch, fuel filter. knock sensor, flushed out the VAM and I/C. I should also do valve seals, but since I've had no oil apparent leakdown or blue puffs at first startup, I'm putting it off till I tear down the motor this winter after the reunion.

Sounds like you won't be happy until you replace every part! When I started working on my car, it was that way - "I'll just replace this or that". Ha - it's like nitrous, very addicting.

Funny thing is, even though you put a NOS part on your car, it doesn't guarentee that a new 18 year old part will work.

You can't expect perfection with anything in life. Hell, I've got a 2004 vehicle that has had things go wrong with it!

[kiwi]

JayG's SVO......

....power steering pump James.......

[Gyrhead]

I know`

I figure I've given it my best try and when I button up the car, I'm just gonna get in and drive it. So if it breaks, I'll fix it. How hard can it be? I've fixed/built a lot of cars in my day. Thanks to all and if it craps out at the reunion, I'm sure I won't be the first embarrased soul to have the hand of fate grab out at them at the worst possible time. I didn't cut too many corners or slap stuff back together half-a$$ed, so hopefully I won't be worried to have all the experts poking around under my hood and snickering to each other Thanks everyone for calming me down. I am still a little worried about the gas tank so I'll probably drop it for good measure just to be safe. I'm still cracking up at Eric's line about going "commando in a rental tux" as something you just shouldn't do. So why shouldn't I just drop the tank?

Paul

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Re: I know`

Originally posted by Gyrhead
So why shouldn't I just drop the tank?

Paul

Because if you trailer it to the reunion, it may be a good guinea pig for a fuel pump/pickup hose swap tech session.

[Gyrhead]

I'd be willing

Pat and everyone else, I'd be willing to be a guinea pig. That is if I can get to drive the car a little over the weekend:p Honestly, I mean it. Let me know if I can help.

paul

[Pat_in_L.A.]

Re: I'd be willing

Originally posted by Gyrhead
Let me know if I can help.

paul

Sure, I'll let you help!
I'll just stand there , point and exercise my supervisory skills.

Things to bring along for the drop and swap:
Floor jack.
Jackstands.
Any tools required.
5 gallon gas jug for draining the fuel from the tank.
A piece of plywood, 1 or 2 square foot section.
An extra fuel line clip, 2 hose clamps and one each of the gas tank "O" rings in case we mess up the ones upon disassembly.
I'll bring a length of replacement 350 PSI rated fuel injection hose.

[Gyrhead]

OK, I can haul all the stuff

Sure, I'll bring the tools. But you mean I gotta wrench on my own car? In front of a bunch pf people??? I thought this was a clinic? I might get stage fright or there might be a mouse nest in my tank or who know what we'll find. That's why your mom said "wear clean underwear in case you get hit by a bus".

I was sorta hoping I could stand off to the side and watch you guys have at it... oh, and like Chris said..."poke it with sticks"

OK, I'll bring the goodies and you bring you supervisory skills.

Paul

[Gyrhead]

Mike, I usually preface my major bodily injuries by "Hey guys, watch this!"

[Ken Potter]

Also ranks up there with "oh sure, it will fit no problem".