Background: I recently acquired a 75 spider. The car has been stored under a deck for several years before being moved outside for several more years. The interior is shot and I've already started ripping that out. I don't have a key for the ignition, at least the one I do have doesn't fit/work (I really don't know if the key goes to this car or not). I'm told that the car had carb issues when it was parked in 1994 and hasn't run since.

I'm wondering if I should bother with trying to see if it will start before thinking about rebuilding. My plan is to see if it will turn "by hand" to determine if it is seized. If I can turn it by hand, I think I will replace the timing belt and see if the car will fire with the starter. I also have to start it without the key because it doesn't work.

After that is done I should know if it is worth rebuilding or not. If I rebuild it are there certain components I should for sure change or certain things I should leave alone.

after not being run for so long, even if you fix the carb and start it, it will be leaking iol all over in a matter of couple hundred miles. that thing needs to be isassembled, components checked over, if everything else is fine, new set of gaskets and oil seals

djape1977 wrote:after not being run for so long, even if you fix the carb and start it, it will be leaking iol all over in a matter of couple hundred miles. that thing needs to be isassembled, components checked over, if everything else is fine, new set of gaskets and oil seals

Right, I don't plan on driving it anytime soon. Just need to know where to start. As in should I go through with seeing if it will fire before I rebuild it or just start rebuilding it and hope it runs when I'm done?

Jay,

Don't get ahead of yourself. These are very stout motors. Your's will not necessarily need to be "rebuilt"

One step at a time.

Turn it by hand, as you said, to determine if its seized.
If it is, take out the plugs and put some Marvel Mystery Oil or Trans fluid into each cylinder. Then keep trying to turn it each day. A big bar might help.
If it isn't seized do the same thing with the plugs and the oil, not too much, and turn it a few revolutions
Clean and regap the plugs
Hook up a strong battery

The fuel in the car is cooked. Avoid getting any in the carb. Figure out some way to safely gravity feed some fresh fuel via the carb intake hose and give it a try.

If it starts and runs a little than the next task will be cleaning out the old fuel in the tank and system.

You'll be back on the road in no time.

and if nothing is wrong with the metal parts in the engine, expect blue smoke from exaust and oil stains on the driveway within 200miles.

valve seals and crank and cams o-rings are hard and brittle after all these years.

Exit98 wrote:Jay,

Don't get ahead of yourself. These are very stout motors. Your's will not necessarily need to be "rebuilt"

One step at a time.

Turn it by hand, as you said, to determine if its seized.
If it is, take out the plugs and put some Marvel Mystery Oil or Trans fluid into each cylinder. Then keep trying to turn it each day. A big bar might help.
If it isn't seized do the same thing with the plugs and the oil, not too much, and turn it a few revolutions
Clean and regap the plugs
Hook up a strong battery

The fuel in the car is cooked. Avoid getting any in the carb. Figure out some way to safely gravity feed some fresh fuel via the carb intake hose and give it a try.

If it starts and runs a little than the next task will be cleaning out the old fuel in the tank and system.

You'll be back on the road in no time.

So if it isn't seized and I get it started, I would think that I would still need to change the timing belt. Shouldn't I do that before I try to start it or should I just plan on do that after getting it running.

I wish it would be back on the road in no time but it needs a lot of work and something to attach the seats too!!

first change the timing belt.

If it is seized then you might as well not waste your time trying to start it. If it is seized there is internal corrosion in a cylinder. Nothing good will come of you putting oil into the cylinder and breaking it free and trying to make it run. Provided you are successful in freeing the engine, where do you think the rust and corrosion are going to go? It doesn’t disappear; you will be destroying the cylinder wall and the piston. Granted they are both probably gone anyway. You are planning to keep the car I would tear down the engine and repair it correctly. But if the engine turns over freely, then by all means put a new timing belt on it, check the tensioner and get it running. But like someone else said, the seals will be hard and dry and gaskets will start to leak, so be prepared to reseal the engine. These engines are very well built and don’t break internally much, unless abused (no oil, or broken oil pump). I have taken these engines apart with over 200k on them and they ran fine, rings and bearings and back on the road for another 200k.

BEEK wrote:I have taken these engines apart with over 200k on them and they ran fine, rings and bearings and back on the road for another 200k.

Mine has about 255000 miles on it. I had it rebuilt at 110000 (in 1985), not because it needed it, but because the cylinder head was leaking a fair amount of oil. As long as the head was off, I got new rings and bearings. No problems since.

I tried to turn the engine by hand but no luck. I did not have a large enough socket for the crank. I took 3 of the 4 sparkplugs out and still couldn't turn it.

Should I be able to turn it by hand or do I need some leverage?

put it in 4th gear and roll the car forward. you should be able to do that pretty easily with the plugs out

I had it in 5th gear but could not push it either with 3 plugs out.

I'm thinking it is seized.

probably so. you need to decide what your plan is, if you cannot get it to turn, i would recommend removing the head

My plan would be to take it apart and see how bad it is. Either fix it or find a replacement engine.

take pictures of the damage, post them here and im sure many will advise you, as i will too