Wofking on a 73 LeMans with no experience

[JV7]

Hello everyone, just joined the forums and I am wondering if my mother's 1973 LeMans would be simple enough for me to repair to running condition. I have no automotive experience, I'm 18. It has not ran in over 30 years and needs things like hoses, belts, a carburetor, and fuel tank (according to my cousin who is good with cars). Would these things be easy enoug for me to fix and get the car moving when spring arrives of should I consult a professional?

Thanks for any feedback

 

[EaOutlaw]

I would say with the correct tools, and service manual you should be able to do anything that is needed to be done.

However I would suggest since your not in a hurry, buy the manual pick a part of the car you want to work on and read the section of the manual that applies to what you want to do.

Then do a dry run, meaning go through the steps in the manual while looking at but not working on the car just yet.

Figure out if you have all the tools needed and you understand everything the manual is telling you.

If you have questions the time to ask is before you open up the car.
When you do come across any questions you need help with take pictures and post them in a new thread that is appropriate for the nature of the work your doing.


If you come across a job that you want to do yet feel you cannot do it even with our help, move on to a different part of the car.

Start with small projects, build your confidence then go back to the other harder jobs.

For example if your replacing the fuel tank and your not sure about what the manual is explaining to you.

Make a copy of the page of the manual and circle the area of confusion.

Start a thread labeled fuel tank replacement for example and post a scanned copy of the manual page your stuck on. and pictures of your gas tank that you may need help with.

This will make it easy to help you.

Before you start any work disconnect the negative battery cable.

Once your done with all the work, before you start the car and connect the battery have a mobile mechanic inspect all your work.


If you have the car up on jack stands where a mechanic can easily inspect all your work it should not cost too much to get the final blessing.

If you post plenty of pictures and videos here of your progress and provide detailed descriptions of what you did and how you did it.

Many of us can pitch in looking for work and guiding you to areas that may need more attention reducing the time the mechanic may have to spend on your car.

Reading and understanding the manual is key to doing the job correctly.

If you do not understand the manual ask questions. the only dumb question is the one you know the answer to, or the question you should have asked and didn't.

Since your new to cars and have not been trained to work on cars safely. it is important that you work safe and work smart.

There are many things that a day to day mechanic takes for granted, but you possibly wouldn't know.

For example how to properly jack up a car where to place the jack stands, when you need jack stands, when you need safety glasses and gloves and other personal protective gear.

The most important thing is to have a friend with you while your working on the car.

The last thing you need is to be trapped under a car that fell off improperly placed jack stands with no one there to help you.


Invest some money in many plastic zip lock baggies and post it notes. and a note pad.

Any time you take anything off the car write down the order of what your doing which should go hand in hand with the manual.

Place bolts nut and screws etc in baggies with notes telling you where each bolt came off of. each bag should have a number on it showing you the order each set of fasteners came off which should correspond to the manual.

The more baggies you use and the less amount of fasteners you put in the baggies the easier it will be to figure out what goes to what.

You should be able to put back each bolt nut and screw back in its original position if you take proper notes. drawing diagrams even tracing the bolt or screw on paper if necessary.

When your done with a step you should not have any extra fasteners. if you find while taking the car apart you are missing fasteners take note of it and get replacements while ordering parts. when you get the parts in put the missing fastener or fasteners in the bag it would be in if it was never missing.

Working on such a older car rust will be your enemy, this means soak any nuts bolt or screws down in WD-40 or PB blaster and let them soak spraying them often before trying to remove and fastener that looks dry or rusted.

When ever possible use a 6 point wrench or socket to remove any bolt. this will lessen your chance of rounding the nut or bolt head.

A 12 point socket gives you more flexibility yet will many times slip on a stubborn fastener rounding the head making your life hell.

Use good quality wrenches or sockets and screw drivers.

If you cannot get a fastener off and have not rounded it off or broke it let us know and we can give you some tips on that particular troublesome fastener.

Many of the specialty tools you need can be sourced from AutoZone or Napa as part of their tool loaner program where you buy a used tool and return it for a refund when your done.

feel free to look up what you want to do on youtube and other sources for videos, just know these types of videos are how they did the job not how the job is supposed to be done.

Reading the manual first you will see many people skipping many important steps while they work on their car.

So use the video as a learning tool to add to your knowledge. some of the videos are very good and time saving. others can get you in trouble so use common sense.

 

[JV7]

Thanks for the great response. Regarding manuals, where should i look for them, library/bookstore/auto store?

 

[EaOutlaw]

there are many to chose from on eBay.

if you get a factory service manual it will contain more information than aftermarket manuals, yet are sometimes harder to understand.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...TRS0&_nkw=1973+lemans+service+manual&_sacat=0

You may want to pick up a Haynes manual also. these normally can be picked up at any auto parts store or checked out by your local library.


http://www.haynes.com/autorepairmanuals?make=pontiac&model=lemans

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[JV7]

Thanks, will parts need be found in store at places like autozone and Napa or will I have to order them online?

 

[EaOutlaw]

Common parts may be found locally, however it is best to gather a list of the known parts you will need and shop around.

You may get all the parts at one place if your lucky and get a deal with shipping.

Before you start spending money do all you can by inspecting the car and writing a detailed list of known parts that need to be replaced.

once you have been over the car reading the manual along the way. you will eventually have a good idea of the condition of the car.

You will also have a good list of parts you will want to replace.

With this list you will be able to prioritize the repairs and get a good idea of the money that will be involved.

A good place to start would be a good oil and filter change.

Then mark the spark plug wires using tape and a sharpy then remove the spark plugs.

Since the car has not run in 30 years. I would suggest while the spark plugs are out to squirt about 1-2 ounces of marvel mystery oil in each cylinder and let it soak for a few days.

While it is soaking and if the engine is equipped with a block heater, plug it in and let the engine warm up.

If you do not have a block heater you can buy one similar to this one and install it. topping off the cooling system when your done.

Just make sure the block heater you pick is designed for your car.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ed dipstick&qid=1456163418&ref_=sr_1_5&sr=8-5

When your coolant is warmed up the metal inside the engine including the pistons the cylinder walls etc will expand to close to the size it was when it was shut off 30 years ago.

Making it easier for the rings to free itself from the carbon that may have it trapped.

During the soaking period unplug the heater to allow the engine to cool off to room temperature. its a good idea to not leave the heater plugged in when you cannot monitor it anyways.

Do several cycles heat then cool heat then cool. while the rings are soaking in oil.

Heating and cooling will expand and contract the engine parts giving you the best chance to save the engine. however there is a good chance the rings may not free up. know this going into this project.

While your waiting on the soaking period get a manual oil pressure test gauge. remove the oil sending unit as per the manual and install this test gauge.

Then mark the position of the distributor and rotor button and install a oil pump primer like this one just make sure it is designed for your engine.

http://www.amazon.com/PUMP-PRIMER-C...ords=pontiac+lemans+350+oil+pump+priming+tool

Prime the engine with oil and ensure you have oil pressure with the gauge.

Do the priming procedure a few times allowing it to build up pressure then rest the drill.

Make sure the engine is warm from the block heater while doing this.

Then remove the primer and reinstall the distributor. you may have to manually operate the oil pump to get the distributor to drop back down in place.

When reinstalled all the marks you made should line back up.

After the engine has soaked with marvel mystery oil, cover each hole with some paper towels. and get ready for a big mess. and cover each side of the engine with some old rags you no longer need.

Then with a fully charged battery try and the engine warmed up with the block heater crank the engine over. if it spins let it spin for about 10 seconds then give the starter a chance to rest.

Repeat this process until all the oil has been pushed out of the engine.

Screw the old spark plugs back in the holes just finger tight and clean off the oil that sprayed out with non flammable brake cleaner wiping it up with clean paper towels.

You will want to perform a compression test as per the manual. this will make sure the engine your working on is worth fixing up.

Soaking the cylinders down with oil may help free up the piston rings that may be stuck to the pistons.

If you find you do not have compression or much compression on one or more cylinders.

Soak the cylinders down again with oil this time crank the engine over slowly by hand using a large ratchet and socket on the crank shaft.

Make sure to rotate the engine in the same direction the engine normally spins while running or when the starter is cranking the engine.

let it soak for as long as you can.

I warn you after sitting for 30 years many things may have crawled inside the exhaust and potentially the engine and taken up residence. from mice, rats, ants etc.

If you see any signs of critters ( droppings or nest ) anywhere in the car or near the car I would recommend a different plan of attack.

 

[JV7]

I want to say that when I spoke with my cousin last summer he said that he thinks the engine is ok, because of his inspection he did about 2 years ago, maybe. I have a list of things he said that I would need to get if I decided to fix it, but I never had the time last summer. The car has been in a well maintained garage, so I don't think there would be a huge problem with rodents, but you never know.

 

[EaOutlaw]

Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

The things I suggested for you to do, is what I would do if I was presented with either of my parents cars that has been sitting for 30 years.

You pretty much have one shot at getting the car running properly without damaging any of its major parts.

The work I listed for you to do, is not that hard it is just time consuming and will require patients.

If you skip any of the steps mentioned it is very likely not to give you the results your looking for.

The few steps I provided for you to do is just the beginning of what you need to do.

However it is already clear to me that your not ready for the help I was willing to provide.

This is your car now and your decision to make.

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[JV7]

Well thanks for the help, I will continue to do my research and make a decision. May just bring it to a professional, depends on what my mom wants to do as well.