70 S MFI cold start

Rusty 356 · 03-28-2009, 11:30 AM

A friend of mine has the above car, just got a letter from him saying that after 25 years in the garage that he is about to start it up. He is missing or has damaged cold start hose and tubing that goes in the Air cleaner. Any suggestions as to what some of you may have done to replace these. He thinks it may have had an air cleaner fire years ago.
This car is my hidden "barn find" if he ever lets it go. Metallic blue, sunroof coupe black sports seats, aluminum rear deck lid. Maybe 10 or so years. Been in the dry desert all its life.

silverc4s · silverc4s's Garage

I have my cold start permanently disconnected. Total fire hazard on the 69 - 70's with the air cleaner nozzles, IMHO. My car is a bit hard to start when cold, but i have only lived in Texas & Northern CA so it has not been a big problem.
If it's too cold out to get it started, you probably shouldn't be out in a 35+ year old car anyway...

...

Zeke · 03-28-2009, 12:59 PM

I'd remove the center fuse on the rear relay panel and use some starter fluid. BUT, you really don't want the car to fire immediately anyway. A few revolutions of the crank will help with oil pressure.

Has he done all the pre start procedures for a stored car? It took me 2 weeks before I fired the Ragamuffin. From gas tank to all the lines, plus the thermostat and wire connections. It all has to be good.

I'll bet that the car needs spark plug wires in a big way. That made a huge difference in the way mine ran. Of course and beyond that, I did a complete tune up. I also drained he old oil, and drained the new oil after a few minutes of being nice and hot.

Best thing to do is drive the car, not just run the motor with no load. For that, you must do the brakes over completely. Bring stored cars back to life properly is a big job and it's important that you do it properly.

Rusty 356 · 03-28-2009, 01:37 PM

Thanks guys for the suggestions. I'll send him a letter, anybody remember what those are?
He is somewhat of a hermit and doesn't have a phone or any modern communication devices.
A real desert guy. If I am able to get out west I'll drive over and take some pics of the car.
He is holding my RSR aluminum roll cage and writes me occasionally and ask when he should send it to me. What a character, but this forum is full of them.

gulf908 · 03-28-2009, 10:24 PM

Rusty,
Make sure your friend has someone else standing by with a working fire extinguisher when he fires up.

HTH
Dennis.

real550A · real550A's Garage

"I'd remove the center fuse on the rear relay panel and use some starter fluid. BUT, you really don't want the car to fire immediately anyway. A few revolutions of the crank will help with oil pressure.

Has he done all the pre start procedures for a stored car? It took me 2 weeks before I fired the Ragamuffin. From gas tank to all the lines, plus the thermostat and wire connections. It all has to be good.

I'll bet that the car needs spark plug wires in a big way. That made a huge difference in the way mine ran. Of course and beyond that, I did a complete tune up. I also drained he old oil, and drained the new oil after a few minutes of being nice and hot.

Best thing to do is drive the car, not just run the motor with no load. For that, you must do the brakes over completely. Bring stored cars back to life properly is a big job and it's important that you do it properly."

All great advice, Milt. I did the same, step by step, before firing my 18 year "sleeper". Boiling out the tank and flushing thoroughly is a must, along with new fuel injection rated lines and fuel injection type clamps.
__________________