Thread: Starting engine after sitting 2 yrs

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Any pointers on starting an engine that's been sitting for 2 to 2 1/2 yrs... the motor is a little MGB 4-banger with a webber down draft. as far as i know it car was running when it was last parked -- indoors with a cover on it.

I'm assuming I need to drain the fuel tank & put in fresh gas, change the oil & clean or replace the plugs before trying to start it... any other recommendations?

I want to get this motor running again to sell it because it's going to be replaced with a 302 as part of a V8 swap.

Well if it has been sitting a while you might want to check the distributors wire to see that there not weatherd or have been chewed on by criters or just that the terminals arent all coroded.

Squirting some oil into each cylinder, I like to use wd40 and let it sit for acouple days, then spray again and turn over slowly by hand.....if the rings are frozen and you fired it right up you can run the risk of braking a ring......check the wires and the terminals on the distrubutor to make sure they are corrosion free, if its carburated, fill the float bowl with fresh gas si it will fire easily. If there is old gas in the tank, drain as much as possible out, most likely it will be sour......then if all goes well, it should fire right up, also doesnt hurt to use an oil pump primer and get some fresh oil to the bearings and the camshaft....good luck....hope this helps

Squirt some light oil in the plug holes, and, while the plugs are out, spin it over on the starter to pre-lube it.