Hello all. First post. Just found this forum last week after doing some searches on Turbo Buicks and oil priming (get to that shortly). Sadly, I'm inheriting 2 turbos: an '86 GN and an '87 Turbo T. History: Dad's cars, had a '70 GS Stage 1, and '86 T-Type, both that he sold early 2000s too. Spent many hours helping as a high school-college kid on the cars and car shows. '86 GN went to GSCA '94 show and placed Top 5 Street Machines. So, it has sentimental value and plans are to keep it. I want to say the GN has about 85-100k mi, has the original turbo last I knew, has an aftermarket, dial-adjustable chip, I think aftermarket injectors, I think aftermarket innercooler, and little things here and there like chrome. Car does have a Kirban anti-theft touch/ground system installed and I was able to get it to unlock, since I at least remembered that step. Just trying to figure out where key needs to be on it, as it took a while to respond and finally unlock. Luckily I have a 2nd, unopened one w/ a manual to read. Ok, enough on history lesson.
The '87 T is outside, uncovered, as it has been, and pretty much is fine. Starts np. It will be my in the in-the-light/working car check as needed for the GN.
Now, my purpose for this post: '86 GN was moved last I knew maybe 5-7 years ago (again, a close guess) from a garage to an outdoor, carport canopy covering, which is on the ground, but the car is on PT boards at least. My first goat is to get this car back into a garage about 100' away, before winter really sets in. Since it's on uneven land and turning is required, pushing isn't really an option. In my initial searches in the last week, I came across a couple threads on best advice for starting after a long-term storage. I saw these related threads so far: Preoiling , rarely started engine and Starting T-Type After LONG Term Storage . I've never tackled this type of procedure before, I'm just coming back to these cars again after at least 15-20 away from them, and want to do this right on this car. My overall experience or more as a hobby and getting as far as changing oil, radiators, shocks, valve covers. I'm the last person to say I'm going to tackle a engine rebuild to give you a position on my experience here.
In my readings so far, here's my thought process on steps to do w/ notes:
1.) Change the oil/filter. Car always received syn oil like Mobile 1 or Castrol and an anti-drainback filter. Should I just put straight conv oil in for this first startup and go back to syn once she's started and moved? I also saw a recommendation to add an oil additive like zddplus due to their tappet cams. Worth doing? Worth doing in the future at each oil change too?
2.) Disconnect orange wire near battery. I believe this is the power to the ECM.Since the battery hasn't been in this until I put one on temporarily to see if I could unlock the anti-theft, I assume all computer memory settings since prior driving are gone, except stock settings w/ the chip and ECM.
3.) Dump the old gas out. Usually had Sunoco 94 installed. I've never done this before and just started looking into best methods to do this. Is there a recommended thread on handling this step? I saw a recommendation of putting in an additive to help with any remaining water or ethanol contaminants.
4.) Disconnect cam sensor. Haven't searched for this yet to see exactly where it is.
5.) Disconnect brown wire near battery. For ECM? To alternator? Don't touch/leave as is?
6.) Pull fuel pump relay wires. Just started looking into this and found this thread link Fuel Pump
7.) Pull spark plug wires from plugs
8.) Perform an oil priming using a tool. I saw a reference to a Moroso #62200. It sounds like I should at least turn the engine by hand once 180 degrees after the first prime and prime again. Is that enough? Confirm oil pressure inside car. What's the number I'm looking for typically?
9.) Reconnect #2, #4, #6, #7 undone previously and attempt first ignition start. Inspect for leaks, smoke, listen for noises not normal. How long should I let this initial start go?
So, does that sound like a good plan of steps and list of steps to get to the first start? I'm not in any immediate rush here, but would like to slowly do what is right to get it from where it is now to the garage before beginning of the year. After I get it to the garage, I can plan the next steps: change coolant system fluids, change tranny oil, change brake fluid, and any other recommendations, some of which I'll have a mechanic do on non-turbo basics. I'm still reading a bit here on this forum and there each week to better understand these cars now that it's mine.
Thanks in advance for any feedback! Sorry for the long post. I haven't seen a sticky on this yet or else maybe I'd review that first.
~Dave
The '87 T is outside, uncovered, as it has been, and pretty much is fine. Starts np. It will be my in the in-the-light/working car check as needed for the GN.
Now, my purpose for this post: '86 GN was moved last I knew maybe 5-7 years ago (again, a close guess) from a garage to an outdoor, carport canopy covering, which is on the ground, but the car is on PT boards at least. My first goat is to get this car back into a garage about 100' away, before winter really sets in. Since it's on uneven land and turning is required, pushing isn't really an option. In my initial searches in the last week, I came across a couple threads on best advice for starting after a long-term storage. I saw these related threads so far: Preoiling , rarely started engine and Starting T-Type After LONG Term Storage . I've never tackled this type of procedure before, I'm just coming back to these cars again after at least 15-20 away from them, and want to do this right on this car. My overall experience or more as a hobby and getting as far as changing oil, radiators, shocks, valve covers. I'm the last person to say I'm going to tackle a engine rebuild to give you a position on my experience here.
In my readings so far, here's my thought process on steps to do w/ notes:
1.) Change the oil/filter. Car always received syn oil like Mobile 1 or Castrol and an anti-drainback filter. Should I just put straight conv oil in for this first startup and go back to syn once she's started and moved? I also saw a recommendation to add an oil additive like zddplus due to their tappet cams. Worth doing? Worth doing in the future at each oil change too?
2.) Disconnect orange wire near battery. I believe this is the power to the ECM.Since the battery hasn't been in this until I put one on temporarily to see if I could unlock the anti-theft, I assume all computer memory settings since prior driving are gone, except stock settings w/ the chip and ECM.
3.) Dump the old gas out. Usually had Sunoco 94 installed. I've never done this before and just started looking into best methods to do this. Is there a recommended thread on handling this step? I saw a recommendation of putting in an additive to help with any remaining water or ethanol contaminants.
4.) Disconnect cam sensor. Haven't searched for this yet to see exactly where it is.
5.) Disconnect brown wire near battery. For ECM? To alternator? Don't touch/leave as is?
6.) Pull fuel pump relay wires. Just started looking into this and found this thread link Fuel Pump
7.) Pull spark plug wires from plugs
8.) Perform an oil priming using a tool. I saw a reference to a Moroso #62200. It sounds like I should at least turn the engine by hand once 180 degrees after the first prime and prime again. Is that enough? Confirm oil pressure inside car. What's the number I'm looking for typically?
9.) Reconnect #2, #4, #6, #7 undone previously and attempt first ignition start. Inspect for leaks, smoke, listen for noises not normal. How long should I let this initial start go?
So, does that sound like a good plan of steps and list of steps to get to the first start? I'm not in any immediate rush here, but would like to slowly do what is right to get it from where it is now to the garage before beginning of the year. After I get it to the garage, I can plan the next steps: change coolant system fluids, change tranny oil, change brake fluid, and any other recommendations, some of which I'll have a mechanic do on non-turbo basics. I'm still reading a bit here on this forum and there each week to better understand these cars now that it's mine.
Thanks in advance for any feedback! Sorry for the long post. I haven't seen a sticky on this yet or else maybe I'd review that first.
~Dave
