The Oldsmobile Connection

[93 Cut Supreme]

I am hopefully going to try and get a 1961 Oldsmobile 98 up and running again in the future. Can anyone help me with the basic steps to get a car that has sat for many years, back up and running. Other than making sure the battery is good, I heard that I should spray the spark plugs and try to turn them over. Should I try to change the oil before I do anything? Any suggestions will help. Thanks

[88delta88]

I think what was meant by spraying spark plugs, is remove the spark plug and squirt some 10-30 motor oil into the cylinders. This is a good idea. Depending on how long it sat (oil breaks down over many years), a preliminary oil change is a good plan aswell. Check all your other fluids.

Anyone else have some tips?

[TheLSS]

- Change all fluids (Engine Oil, Coolant, Transmission Fluid, Brake fluid if your going to drive it)
- Make sure your brakes work properly, you don't want a runaway car!
- Drain all fuel out of the gas tank, or just replace the tank. (if you really want to be picky, replace all fuel lines too. At the least blow them out to clear them up) then pour in fresh fuel
- Drop a bit of diesel fuel in all the cylinders before starting it up
- Check your distributor to make sure it's in operation condition
- Check most of your wiring to make sure animals haven't gotten at it and torn it up

Do all that and you should have a running machine. Anyone else got any other pointers?

[73Delta88]

When I started working on my car it had been sitting for many years, I wasn't even sure if it would turn over. Before I did anything else, I removed the plugs and squirted engine oil in the cylinders, replaced the plugs and let it sit for a while. Then I removed the plugs again and turned it over so it would shoot the excess oil out the spark plug holes. Once I knew it turned over ok I continued to do other things to get it running such as changing all the fluids and ignition parts (points, rotor, distributor cap, etc.) Those parts won't work properly if they get corroded so if the car sits for years (especially outside) moisture can get in there and cause problems. The gas tank was full of very bad gas so I just hooked a rubber fuel line to the fuel pump and stuck it in a gas can while trying to get it going initially. I did end up replacing the gas tank and all of the lines eventually. It did start initially, but didn't run really great. The carburator needed to be rebuilt. After that was done it ran like a top.

I don't know if that is the absolute perfect way to get an engine running that has been sitting, but it worked for me.

...and that was just to get it running... the rest of the car is another story :lol:

[93 Cut Supreme]

Thanks for the help. Does anyone know if I would need to change the brakes Master Cylinder to tandem reservoirs to make it safer or did they come with them stock? Or if they did not come stock, can I upgrade/add it?

[88 Coupe]

This should be in its own thread.

93 Cut Supreme wrote: ........ if I would need to change the brakes Master Cylinder ........
Not unless there is a problem with it.

Quote: ........ to tandem reservoirs to make it safer ........
Not needed if you follow proper maintenance procedures.

Quote: ........ or did they come with them stock? ........
No. Double MC came along in '67 as part of the new disc brake package.
Quote: ........ can I upgrade/add it?
You can. If you find one that will bolt on, you'll have to re plumb the brake lines in the MC to frame area. Then after you finish, it won't stop any better.

There are several members at http://classicoldsmobile.com that can tell you what MC might interchange with your stock one.

If you tell us what you wish to accomplish, we can be more help.

Norm