Just bought a 69 Z11 from my neighbor, I have been trying to buy this car for 25 yrs. He restored this car in 1982, and drove it 200 miles, and tore the front end down to replace the front springs because he found a crack in the coil spring. Covered it up, and waited for parts, and thats the way it has been ever since. All quarters, and door skins, and fenders were replaced in 82, and new paint. The problem is this car has been covered, and not started since it was rebuilt.Motor, and tranny. What would be your fist step in firing it up.

Can you post up some pictures?

Tom

If it is the original engine, after 28 years of sitting, I would be tempted to pull the engine and disassemble it rather than trying to start it. If one piston is frozen in place, you could break something trying to start it, the crank or the block. I would error on the side of caution.

Same here - I would pull the engine and tear it down, clean up and machine as needed then rebuild and put it back in. The oil between the bearings and crank as well as wrist pins has likely deteriorated to the point it needs cleaned out - not to mention surface rust on internal parts including the cylinder walls. I'd probably have a shop boil the block, install cam bearings and freeze plugs, bore/hone as needed, new rings, bearings, and oil pump.

While you have it out have a good shop go through the transmission - minimum would be replace front and rear seals on it, those will be leakers now I would bet. Flush or replace the torque converter as well as a fresh filter and fluid.

Thanks for the imput on the motor. The motor has less than 800 miles on it, and I thought I might have to tear the motor apart. It has been stored in a heated garage. The transmission was also done at the same time. I'm in Florida now so this won't get started until I get back home in the spring. I'll let everyone know how this comes out.

Well Sunday,May the 15th took the gas tank off, and flushed it out, and it was clean inside. There was about 2 gal. of 1982 gas, and it smelled like it. Replaced all the gas line hoses, and put in 6 gal. of new gas. Took plugs out, and shot each cyclinder with penatrating oil twice, and waited one day, and turned the engine over by hand. Took coil wire off, and put new battery in, and turned the motor over. It went to 35 lbs. oil pressure. After playing with the points, and rotor cap. Put everything back together, and added some gas to the carb, and added 1/2 gal anti freeze to the radiator started the motor. It finally stared, and didn't even smoke. Let it run for twenty minutes at 2200 RPM. Sounded great.I can't believe this ran, and even turned over. It had not been turned over since 1982. I should have bought a Lotto ticket. No rust under the car, and hickory nuts came flying out of the exhaust when I started it. Chipmucks had been busy.This car had been stored in a heated garage covered up, and never looked at. I'll let everyone know how the next phase goes.Hopefully off to the body shop next month. It just needs touched up in a few places.

Going home this weekend to replace rear springs,and shocks,and vaccuum hoses, and sand blast the wheels for new paint.I'll let you know how that goes.

Pictures and build month! Sounds like a very nice car!

I have to figure out how to get the pictures on here. The Vin is 610121 and there wasn't any rust under the car. I bought this car covered up with a car cover in a heated garage. It has the same top it came from the factory with,and seats. It has 73,000 miles since new.

Send me the photos if you are having trouble

Sent you my pictures of the Camaro. I also have the original owners manual, and ID card that came from the first buyer.It is like a credit card for warrenty work.How rare is that?

pictures

I have a couple of questions. Took the tires off the wheels to bead blast. Instead of code number being YJ it had JJ on them.They are 14x7, and the wheels are for disc brakes.Have you seen this before.What is the color number for these wheels.Trying to get the car ready for the body shop before heading back to Florida this fall. The billed date was 02D, and protecto-plate date is 3-6-69.Thanks for any help you can give me.

Your looking at the wrong location
Check by the valve stem hole. All wheels have the JJ stamped on the inside of the rim.
Tom

Thanks Weaver, That makes me feel better. Still have an original tire for the spare, and it doesn't have dry rot. I'll keep it for the spare. What is the paint color for the wheels. I got them sand blasted. I could have wire brushed them, but I want to do it right.The underneath of the car still looks great, but I'm stripping the paint. It has some cracking place on the paint.Just getting the motor running was a plus for this year.It runs so smooth, and doesn't smoke. Not bad for setting 29 yrs. without being turned over.