Say yous've got your heart on a car that you pass on your daily commute. I just off the road that has been sitting in that location long enough that information technology might actually exist growing roots, never to exist driven again. Or possibly a friend alerted you to a motorcar plant on another friend's property that was kept within a garage or befouled. "Just," they tell you, "information technology's been sitting there for a while."

Being a car enthusiast is sometimes extraordinarily painful. It's not so much the lusting subsequently loftier-terminate new Ferraris or McLarens that get us, it'south the cheap project cars that youcould afford (at least in their current state) that really tear us upward within. Between scrolling through BringaTrailer.com and trying to reconcile our checking accounts ("c'monday, it won't take that much to become it going"), information technology'south non and then much a question of ownership the incorrect car as it is making the error of non buying the machine in the start place.

If yous've been fortunate plenty to win this argument with your conscience, and you've shelled out some cash for a befouled find, two things: Commencement, congratulations on your new family fellow member. Second, at present you'll need to become the thing running again. Godspeed.

Fortunately,Hot Rod Garage'south Tony Angelo has some sound advice for getting that engine to turn over the start time in all the same many years. Using his own 1971 Contrivance Demon as an case (it sat for some 18 years, he says), Angelo walks you through the process for getting the engine back in running condition. Check out his video above, and nosotros've also laid out the steps beneath to serve every bit a handy guide to proceed around when the big moment comes.

1. Make sure the engine is "free"

The 413 Max-Wedge was a performance only option available in 1962
Source: Dodge

Over time, the engine's internals can seize due to rust, corrosion, and grit and grime that finds its way in. Before subjecting the electric system to such abuse, make sure the engine can turn over in the first place. Angelo simply places the appropriate socket on the end of the creepo and uses a breaker bar. Although it might be hard, the crank should turn somewhat smoothly. If it doesn't spin, Angelo recommends filling the cylinders with ATF (automatic transmission fluid) or some other grade of lubricant and letting it sit for a twenty-four hours or so to help information technology break free. (In this picture, the crank is located behind the drive belt pulley on the bottom).

2. Bank check and change your fluids

Check Oil " Source: iStock
Checking Oil | iStock

This should probably be a no-brainer, but chances are the fluids in your befouled discover are old and turned, if nowadays at all. This goes for everything from the coolant to the gasoline; Angelo actually swapped out his unabridged gas tank, and his car was kept in a decent environment during that time. If it'southward been more than year, Angelo says, simply change everything out anyways, just to be on the prophylactic side. Restriction fluid, oil (apparently), transmission fluid — just brand sure it'due south all in adept shape.

iii. Pull your plugs and bank check the cylinders

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Source: NGK Spark Plugs via Facebook

The joy of older cars is that components similar the spark plugs, and well, everything — are so like shooting fish in a barrel to access and piece of work on. Even though the crank is able to move, information technology'south always important to check the inside of the cylinders likewise, to brand sure there aren't deposits, rust, or anything that could cause major damage in one case the engine is running. Angelo uses an inspection camera, which can snake through the spark plug socket and give you a slap-up view of the inside of the cylinder.

4. Prime your oil system

Oil drain bolt
Oil drain commodities | Micah Wright/Autos Crook Sheet

You could conceivably cause irreversible impairment to various internal components by trying to turn the engine without priming the oil arrangement. Though you might accept filled the oil pan to spec, the engine will need a few cycles to become it flowing consistently, and so brand sure you negate the run a risk of overheating or fusing past helping the process forth. Angelo pulled the distributor and was able to prime the system using a tool he fabricated, merely be aware that this isn't something you lot can do on just whatsoever engine.

5. Install a make clean fuel filter

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News

You but put new gas (and maybe a whole damn tank) into the car, then why waste all that in one case it gets to the filter? By now, your barn find's filter has probable dried out or is at least older and in need of replacing. Fresh fuel filters volition help with performance, fuel economy, and aid keep your engine running cleanly and smoothly for years. They don't cost much, and you're already pulling things autonomously, so go ahead and swap one in — fifty-fifty if you remember it'due south OK.

6. Turn information technology over and flush the fuel organization

Source: Thinkstock
Source: Thinkstock

Even if you lot replaced the gas tank (or at least the gas in it) and cleared some of the fuel lines like Angelo did, you'll nonetheless need to affluent out whatever fuel was sitting in the system when it was powered down for the last time. To exercise this, only turn the engine over (this is provided that all the previous steps accept been taken). Disconnect your fuel line, add a length of hose, and run it into a bottle or reservoir of some kind, and requite it some power — the fuel should start sputtering into the bottle. Once it's running clean, you tin can re-connect your fuel line. Notably, your engine won't catch since it won't be getting fuel, and so you lot'll exist relying on battery power for this.

7. Cheque your seals, gaskets, and water pump

Source: iStock
Cylinder heads. | iStock

"Time is the enemy of rubber," Angelo says. And he'southward right — over time, rubber gaskets and seals volition deteriorate, fissure, and lose their sealing power. For a car that's been sitting for whatsoever period of time, it's definitely a safe bet to replace those seals and gaskets before it'due south too late. Angelo singled out the seals on the fuel pump diaphragm, front and rear main seals, and accelerator pump — though these components will vary from engine to engine.

8. Inspect the carburetor

Source: iStock
Source: iStock

"If you have any issues like crude running, backfires, anything crazy, it'south probably going to be the carburetor," Angelo notes. On older cars, the carburetor was the chirapsia eye of the engine and the culmination of the fuel, air, and electrical systems. Making sure that yours is in expert working order is but common sense.

Like classics? It'due south always Throwback Th somewhere.

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