Car Prep list for a vehicle that hasnt been on the road for 19 years

[Gate4jg]

In 2 weeks one of my cars will finally be an antique and I will finally get to put it back on the road. Im looking for a little help think up of a check list of basic things I need to look over before the summer. A little back story, its a 1987 Ford Escort which used to be owned my nonna and it hasn't been on the road since 1993. I have started it it now and then to keep things moving.

The list.....

1.) change all fluids (coolant, fuel, trans, engine oil)

2.) check belts

4.)check brake lines

5.) change the tires

6.) change brake rotors and pads

Keep em coming!

 

[Iboc_C64]

Why hasn't it been driven in 19 years if you don't mind me asking?

 

[Pedro]

Checklist: Everything

or more realistically, change every fluid, check brake lines (especially the rubber hoses). check and change coolant, fuel, trans, engine oil.

change the tires, brake rotors and pads. basically everything on the most intensive service you can think of. Check the Tbelt if applicable for cracks and change that. new acc. belts.

 

[Gate4jg]

Why hasn't it been driven in 19 years if you don't mind me asking?

Well after my grandmother died it was stilling in MA until 2008. that's when I brought it up here. After that I just didn't want to register it because I would have lost the original inspection sticker. The car is still new. It only has 32,000 miles, 3k less then my 04 STI. lol

 

[Iboc_C64]

that's 31k less than my 2009 WRX. Sounds like you don't drive very much. Out of curiousity, what is the big deal about an Escort that has turned in to an Antique? Its not exactly a classic, and most people I think would pay to be rid of it. My aunt had one for 10 years before it's engine caught fire in our driveway and melted to pieces.

 

[Pedro]

That is 129,000 less miles than my 2006 WRX. wow.

 

[Chris]

That's 213,000 less than my stupid legacy..... haha

that's 31k less than my 2009 WRX. Sounds like you don't drive very much. Out of curiousity, what is the big deal about an Escort that has turned in to an Antique? Its not exactly a classic, and most people I think would pay to be rid of it. My aunt had one for 10 years before it's engine caught fire in our driveway and melted to pieces.

hahaha

 

[Gate4jg]

that's 31k less than my 2009 WRX. Sounds like you don't drive very much. Out of curiousity, what is the big deal about an Escort that has turned in to an Antique? Its not exactly a classic, and most people I think would pay to be rid of it. My aunt had one for 10 years before it's engine caught fire in our driveway and melted to pieces.

Well most of the rare cars are the ones no one would care about until there are non left. Besides the Ford Escort was produced world wide and it had the longest + most produced product in car history. I have no doubt it wasn't the best built car. When new they where known to rot. Then again every car has its flaws. But to have an example of a car that looked like when it came off the show room floor is kind of cool. I bet they used to say that about the Model-A. But at least mine has disk brakes, A/C, and heat. hahaha

 

[brighton]

Besides the Ford Escort was produced world wide and it had the longest + most produced product in car history.

Based on what? What about the VW bug and the Mini cooper?

My grandmother had a escort for 20 years, after she got rid of her VW bug. Good luck with getting it back on the road.

 

[Gate4jg]

Based on what? What about the VW bug and the Mini cooper?

My grandmother had a escort for 20 years, after she got rid of her VW bug. Good luck with getting it back on the road.

ok let me rephrase then.... "american car"

 

[Pedro]

Well most of the rare cars are the ones no one would care about until there are non left. Besides the Ford Escort was produced world wide and it had the longest + most produced product in car history. I have no doubt it wasn't the best built car. When new they where known to rot. Then again every car has its flaws. But to have an example of a car that looked like when it came off the show room floor is kind of cool. I bet they used to say that about the Model-A. But at least mine has disk brakes, A/C, and heat. hahaha

The escort outside of the US is a completely different car.

 

[Gate4jg]

ok american car company LOL

 

[wrbwrx]

check plugs and wires, fuel lines

 

[05RSKID]

I would do a full tune up plugs, wires, distributer or coil pack(dont know what it has lol) fuel filter. I would also look over the front end parts, like ball joints, tie rods ect.

 

[2point5RS_Dan]

Less ball busting about the car and more good advice.

Change out all the fluids, inspect and plan to replace everything made out of rubber.

Some might consider it snake oil, but we had good luck turning over my dads old ass jeep motor by pulling the plugs and putting some marvel mystery oil in. (not a lot obviously)

 

[Chris]

I'd probably check things like ball joints and tie rods. Those can get rusty and if there's anything you don't want to break, it's a tie rod or ball joint.

If the transmission stops working, the engine blows up, hell, even if your brakes fail. You want to be able to steer.

 

[K3rn]

look for mice nests them suckers get me every time. and any car can be a classic and its been in his family so that makes it worth more just my 2 cents

 

[SoMeWRX]

^^what he said, I saved a '65 barracuda last year that had not been started in 12 years and I literally had a bbq going over the carb cause a mouse nest blew across the engine bay as I was cranking. dont even know where it came from. quite dangerous. also I know you said you were going to change the tires so be real careful about dry rot if you are inflating the old ones/working down near them. finally, I would take a quick look around and make sure all your electrical connections have active grounds (not rusted out etc) and, again, there are not big clumps of mouse nests, leaves around them. good luck!

 

[Gate4jg]

Oh there is no mice. I know that. It had enough moth balls scattered around the car to kill a cat. One of the benefits of being sealed in a garage for 19 years. But tires are my big problem right now. I can't find anyone that sells P165/80R13 tires. I really want to get picky and get white walls like is on the car now but I know that's not going to happen. Any ideas where to look? Im running out of ideas and Ford Escort parts and the internet are just not working out. hahaha