Rootes1725cc

Hi all , I have a mk 1 1964 Sceptre thats been garaged for 3 years . I need some advice to start it up. I will change the fuel , turn the engine buy hand ? Concerned about frozen clutch , engine and brakes. Thanks for any advice.

I am not completely sure about what is the question.

If it were me, I would do the following.

1. Flush out the brake lines. replace all fluid.
(do same for clutch lines just to be sure.)
If the brake or clutch master cylinder has gone bad, you will find out quickly during this process.

2. Flush fuel line.
(empty fuel tank first)
The tank is likely to possibly have some water and rust in it, so I would slosh around the old fuel before draining in the hopes the water and debris will come out with it.

3. Engine
-Drain all of the coolant and replace. (unless you already have the "newer" 5 year anti-freeze installed) in that case just check the level.
-Remove the sparking plugs. If you don't have a plug cleaner, toss the plugs and buy new ones. They are inexpensive and it's always hard to start an engine that has been sitting with old (possibly fouled) plugs.
- check engine oil level and top up if needed.
- use an oil can to squirt a liberal amount of engine oil in each cylinder
- with the plugs still out, use the starter to turn over the engine until you have good oil pressure. (and maybe 10 second more to get the oil that you put in the cylinders on the cylinder walls.)
- Does it have stock points ignition? (or retrofit electronic?) The points may be oxidized and the condenser might have gone bad.
- also the dizzy cap and rotor are likely to have oxidized contacts. Clean and/or scrape the corrosion off of the contacts inside of the dizzy cap (taking care not to scratch the inside of the cap itself.)
- Check for a good strong spark by grounding a spark plug to the engine (just touching the block should suffice) and have someone turn over the starter. If the spark looks good, put the new plugs in the engine.
- You will need to prime the engine by filling up the carburetor with new clean petrol. An easy way to do this is to squirt it into the bowl vent to fill up the bowl. (if you have already replaced the original mechanical fuel pump with an electric pump, just turning on the ignition should get the fuel pumping.
- buy a can of "starting fluid" (don't breath it, it's mainly ether and you might fall asleep on the job! ) A couple of shots in the carburetor before starting is all you need. (Do not spray while starting)
- be sure you are out of gear and in neutral and start it up!

OK, Guys, did I miss anything?

Regards,
Dana

Thanks , thats an excellent step by step guide for starting an engine that has not been started for some time . I want to do it right as not to damage the engine ! Coolent was the long lasting type but will change that as thermostate houseing needs doing. Electric fuel pump. Still on the old points system but if i am takeing them out i might install electronic [ thats something to look into ] and another post !
Two questions ... on turning the engine for lubrication is it better to crank it slowley by hand or was that an old dad,s tale ?
Starter fluid , is that the same as easy start ? I used that once on a ford and had to use it every time !

Thanks for the help .

Peter,
good catch! I would check the thermostat too.

re: turning by hand.
As long as the plugs are out and the car is not in gear, the load on the dry bearings will be minimal using the starter.
But turning by hand will not hurt but probably will not buy you much because it may be too slow to get much oil pressure.

One thing that you might do it to remove the rocker cover and squirt oil on all of the rockers and valve guides.
turn by hand and then do it again before starting.

There are so many different brands of starting fluid, any brand will work.
I like the ones with ether because they will work at very low temperatures and don't smell as bad and if you miss the carburetor it will just evaporate and not make a mess.

BTW, I forgot to mention to check the air cleaner for bugs, spiders and rodents. I found a mouse nest in an air cleaner once!

If you do decide to change over to the "plug and play" type of electronic distributor like "Hot spark" or AccuSpark, I think you will be really happy.
It makes cold starting on damp days so much easier and really smooths the idle too.

Good luck!

-Dana

It must be the season for restarting old sceptres that have been standing for a few years as I'm about to embark on the same task myself