Reviving a '72E

[LuftWaffle]

Finally getting around to start my "winter" project. '72E Targa that I picked up a few years ago. 93K miles, bone-stock and pretty solid. Second owner parked it sometime in the 90's due to the fact he could no longer get it through Utah emissions although he said it still ran very well at that time. I figure I have about 20 years of maintenance to catch up on. Started by draining the gas and oil. The fuel tank and pickup are surprisingly clean and I replaced the lines from the tank to the tunnel lines yesterday. Moving to the rear the plan is to replace all of the fuel lines there as well, along with the fuel filter and high pressure pump drive belt. My question is this: given the age, mileage and history should I plan on sending the MFI pump off for rebuild? If so, where? Pacific Fuel Injection? Supertec? someplace else? Should I send the injectors as well or are they DIY cleanable/testable? -John

[HarryD]

Don't get to excited about spending a bunch of money with expensive rebuild yet.

Check posts 20 and 21 of this thread for some really good advice from Grady Clay: Winter storage checklist?

Based on that, you will know where to spend your hard earned money.

[jim49ers]

Six years ago I was exactly where you are now with my 72E.I was also concerned about my mfi pump due to the fact the car had not been started since 1995.Follow Gradys list of the basics and go from there.I was lucky the engine started right up.I drove mine 50 miles today... you are going to love the car once you get her going.What color is yours? Post some pics soon ..good luck

[LuftWaffle]

Harry & Jim - Thanks.

Grady's advice is always gospel so I will look that over. Anyone talk to Grady lately? I haven't seen much from him recently.

My concern with the MFI pump is twofold - Is the reason that it couldn't be tuned to pass emissions testing due to defective components or faulty tuning - or both? And if the pump has problems will it dump fuel into the crankcase?

This is my first experience with MFI. I have the CMA manual and the adjustment tools but not the protractor set. I have no idea what has already been done so can't assume anything is "right".

Here is a picture of when I picked it up. Color is 8080 Silver Metallic and it has a black interior with sport seats.

[jim49ers]

i had a big pile of failed smog tests. One of reasons why the car sat for so long.Looks like you have a really nice car. Mine is also a targa..without the sport seats.My understanding is that with mfi they just love to run rich and were hard to get past the California smog standards.Those days are gone now.My car is #562 purchased new in San Carlos Ca post some pics of the inside when you have the time I would like to see the sport seats good luck with your project.

[ruwoodbury]

Great looking car, hope you get it up and running by springtime (which can come late in Wyoming).
I didn't think there were any emissions standards for a '72 model. Wasn't it '74 or '75 that emissions requirements came into the picture?
Anyway best of luck with the car.

[Porboynz]

Fresh fuel and cranking for oil pressure before starting was my recipe after 10 years storage. I did pump oil into the cylinders when storing and I made a point of hand cranking the engine with a spanner on the front pulley a couple of turns every 3 months or so. I assume your motor just sat so I would pump some oil into the cylinders and spin by hand with plugs out, then use the starter motor until you get oil pressure. Next step connect the fuel pump and ignition and go for it. Watch out for leaks from the cold start lines, replace all fuel lines if you can. If the MFI pump drive belt breaks the motor stops but no damage as such so replacement is not a high priority. I would try and run it before rebuilding, who knows it may just need adjusting.

[LuftWaffle]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I did pull the plugs, oiled the cylinders and turned it over by hand when I first got it.

Maybe I'm over-thinking the MFI pump. For some reason I had it stuck in my head that one of the failure possibilities was dumping large quantities of fuel into the crankcase....?

According the the guy I bought it from the reason he quit driving it was that it ran so rich that it wouldn't pass the smog sniff test and no one could get it leaned out. The sparkplugs were awfully black and sooty when I removed them.

[Mike O'Meara]

I wouldn't assume the pump needs rebuilding for this reason alone. Initial emission test failures in Illinois led me to a yearly ritual of getting the motor as hot as I could get it, leaning out the MFI to an acceptable level while monitoring with a Gunson exhaust sniffer, taking the test (idle only) and then promptly returning the MFI to it's previous setting after passing. All this after taking it to a mechanic who couldn't get it lean enough to pass. Being able to monitor the adjustment on a gas analyzer with the correct range was essential, though.

[aoncurly]

+1 on fresh fuel. The gasoline composition changes over the years, and perhaps you got a mix of old/new. I assume smog values changes along with newer gas compositions. I'm convinced that was a problem with my 911SC. Several years back I had a helluva time passing CA smog requirements. I realized later that I hadn't filled the car up with "fresh" gas in quite awhile. Everytime since, I have been filling up prior to smog inspections and haven't had a problem since.

[RWebb]

people often run Seafoam or similar products thru the system for a while

but it would be safest to pull the tank out and inspect it - you might just pull the fuel gauge sensor out, then use a transfer pump to remove as much old fuel as possible while trying to put the hose down deep into the bottom of the tank - check to see if there are any particulates in the withdrawn gas

you can dispose of the old gas, if filtered, by adding it a bit at a time to some daily driver - I usually add 1 gallon in 8 or so - that way you just burn it up and get some use out of it

you can bet that gasket needs to be replaced anyway; don't forget to put in a new fuel filter - change it early and cut it open to see what's up

do the same with the oil & oil filter

MFI pumps do indeed have a habit of dumping excess fuel in which often winds up in the oil -- IIRC, this is associated with the extra injector used for cold starts on some?/all? of them

you've been lucky so far!

be certain to replace all the rubber brake hoses; the brake fluid -- the tires if > 6 years old; and every other fluid in there

search on long + term + maintenance and run thru there, prioritizing the safety and "expensive if it breaks" items - maybe the internal differential bolts on your year??

we are all excited for you & your car, and hope to live vicariously by your posting lots of pics on here...

[RWebb]

oh yeh - search on check + measure + adjust for all the info on MFI setup

what city are you in? can you run stuff down the front range to Ft. Collins or Boulder easily?

be aware that fuel composition will change from winter to summer in a while, so any new fuel added now should be used up before then

[tharbert]

With a fresh oil change, your engine is reasonably protected for a short period of time once you get it started. If it was running rich before it was parked, you probably need to do D. Clarks's CMA2. Think of it as a very thorough tune-up.

Do a little searching for what others have done to start cars after long periods of storage. Take lots of pictures and keep up posted on how you do.

[Flieger]

If the pump is set way too rich there can be washing down of the cylinder walls. The pump does not use seals between the plungers and the bores so the oil and fuel can mix if the clearances get excessive (worn).

[LuftWaffle]

Great advice - thanks to you all.

I had drained the fuel tank completely and resigned myself to probably needing to pull it but was pleased to find it very clean. I pulled the sender and used a flashlight and inspection mirror.

I've spent quite a bit of time going through all of the MFI links and documentation from David Clark here on the Pelican site and once my fuel line shipment arrives later this week I should be all ready to finish up the rear lines. Probably pull the electric pump and bench test it while I'm doing that.

I have already pulled everything from the front trunk and cleaned the battery boxes. Some surface corrosion but that cleaned up nicely. New batteries installed.