What To Check On Vette That Has Sat for 13 Years?

So if a C3 Vette has been sitting for 13 years or so, what should the new owner check/replace prior to driving it? Brake components for sure. Change fluids. Anything else?

Make sure the engine starts. Battery ;)

IF there is a chance of being out at night/rain better check those lights and wipers. Brake lights are important. Turn signals(I don't think they're optional but most of the nation does?). Make sure the hoses for the radiator and other such hoses are intact, it matters as much that the water get to the block as it does that its in the radiator.

I'd check all the fluids, and then fill anything that needed filling. Then let the car sit for a day or two and make sure there isn't a major leak(eg. Rad is empty, fill it, start driving 10 minutes down the road, overheat vs rad is empty, fill it, let car sit, next day notice rad is empty, replace rad, no "breakdown")

I'm sure my list isn't complete, but its a start.

Scot

Just a thought....but if i had a vette that had been sitting for thirteen years ....the first thing i would want to do is put it up on floor jacks and get under it and take a good look....usually the things ya' cant see could be a problem down the road ! Look it over good....and replace what needs to be replaced . What paragon75ray said is good advice , i agree with everyting he says good luck

If there happens to be a tree groing up through make sure to remove it be-4 driving it away.you didnt mention whether it has been started at all while it was sitting ,if not make sure you get some oil down in those cylinders b-4 you fire it up,was it stored inside or outside,makes a lot of difference.moisture from the ground can really mess it up under neath,exhaust systems ,brake lines,gas lines,FRAME,the list goes on and on.What is the interior like ? is it one big mouse house?I would trailer it home,and start from there,for sure it will need total brake rebuild,those brake lines and calipers will need to be replaced,or at least rebuilt,plus master cylinder,and all rubber brake lines. check the gas tank,it should be cleaned and repaired ,dont run that old gas,its sure to be rusted inside,un less its a 78 or newer these tanks have a rubber bladder inside them.try to get a mechanic to look it over and make a list for you.every vette owner has a never ending list of things to work on,good luck with it,dont get discouraged,when its all done ,you'll have a great safe car,that will give you lots of enjoyment for years to come. Ron 78

My 72 sat up for 18 years before I got it. I did a lot of preventive maintaince before driving it. I took the gas tank off and cleaned it, then replaced fuel filters every 200 miles for about 1000 miles until it was clear and clean each time. I put a new water pump on, and had the radiator boiled out and cleaned, and new hoses and a new thermostat. Change the transmission fluid and filter if it's an auto. Same with the brakes, new lines and rebuilt the calipers, and the master cylinder. I was rebuilding the engine anyway, so that took care of old oil and filter. I also rebuilt the carb to make sure the old gaskets were not going to give me a problem.
This may seem like a lot of work, but I use my vette daily, and on trips, and it is comforting to know that everything is alright. It has never left me stranded.

Yah thats the way to do it gotta go through everything,the one thing you miss is gonna come back down the road and bite you in the a-- .a little time now ,will save you time down on the side of the road . Ron 78

Ian sat for 6 years in a barn in Florida, before we got him. We replaced all fluids, spark plugs, put new gas in with stablizer, and he started up roughly. new plug wires and battery cables got rid of the rough running, we had to replace the master brake cylinder, brake lines, and calphers. we had the automatic transmission lines replaced too. all of these one at time over the past year and well worth it. take things a few at time , make a priority list too. The door locks were all rusted and with a lot of wd40 and working the by hand , they now work again, it has been fun doing the work I can on it too, not as much fun paying some one else, ha,ha!

What about engine and transmission seals? Will they need replacing as well? My friend says that once the engine block starts heating up and then cooling down again, after all those years, there'll be leaks.

I just got my 76 back on the road after sitting for 16 years. All the comments above are excellent and true. One other big thing - in a word "RUBBER". Meaning anything that's rubber (busings, hoses, tires, etc.) you should expect to need to replace. Remember there are a lot of metal parts that have rubber parts as well (shocks, actuators, etc.) and it's a good bet that they have rotted out as well.

If you're interested in a detailed list of everything I had done on mine to get it running again, send me email and I'll be glad to share the list with you.

I'll preface this with the fact that my car was originally a daily driver and a regular Street/Show competitor (First place winner in her day, I might add!), parked, covered, and not started for 16 years (once the battery died and the carb stop delivering gas).

Fortunately, the engine was babied prior to this so it survived the time. Well, as well as any 27 year old engine could!

the engine block seals and transmission seals don't leak on Ian but keep track of them once you get it running. unless you 'd rather do the seal changing before starting it up just to be sure.