Should I even try? 1993 Excort Wagon.

[koda6966]

Well, as some of you know I have an Escort that I use as a storage unit. Basically it sits in my yard full of boxes. I got to thinking today about how nice it would be if it actually ran, since it got 40 miles to the gallon back in it's prime. What some of you don't know.. is that it was trashed shortly after 9/11. 7 years of sitting in my yard can do a lot to a vehicle. I checked under it today, and it SEEMS like it doesn't have as much rust as I once thought. It just started rusting a while ago after someone removed the battery. It had an "electronic rust inhibitor" on it. So rust isn't an issue with it. What is an issue, is the possibility of a bent frame, and the fact that it wont start. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the engine, and as far as I know the transmission works fine. Right now, what I think the reason is for why it doesn't work is how it's had a full tank of gas.. for 7 years.. obviously we all know that gas goes bad in a tank after a while. So here's what I'm wondering, should I just drain the tank, and put a tad bit of fresh gas in it to see if it runs, or will I need to replace fuel lines, tank, filter, etc? I would be trying to spend as little money as possible. Since I still don't know if the frames bent and have no way to tell unless I can get it to run/move.

[motohead771]

The Injectors will probably have gunk in them, along with everything else that had gas in it for that long. I guess you can try, it might get enough fuel through the system to run. If it does run, it won't be pretty. Run some seafoam in the gas if it does start to clean the gunk out a little bit, but it wont do much if you dont have fuel flow. IMO save up and get a $500 car that is actually running at the moment if you dont want to spend alot of money. Which it might take to get the escort running again.

Deffinatly will need a new fuel filter BTW.

[dennis461]

So here's what I'm wondering, should I just drain the tank, and put a tad bit of fresh gas in it to see if it runs, or will I need to replace fuel lines, tank, filter, etc? I

You will (most likely) need to replace any rubber line, they collapse on the inside blocking flow. The tank may need to be dropped to get all the gas out.
Bad gas won't mix with the new gas, it will still clog the pumps and injectors.

But, you can get her done.. My Mustang sat for 15 years, had to open up the access hole for the fuel float to get all the rust out. Yours has an in-tank fuel pump, right?

[koda6966]

What's the scrap price these days for about 2000lbs worth of car?

[motohead771]

Originally Posted by koda6966

What's the scrap price these days for about 2000lbs worth of car?

LOL, not worth all that work koda?

[koda6966]

Haha, just checking my options.

[Earl43P]

Pshaw. 7 years?

I'd drain out the whole tank of gas from the fuel filter line, bumping the key to run to speed it along (fresh battery). Clean and gap the plugs.

New gas, new fuel filter, new battery, change the oil IF it starts.

Those fuel hoses should be fine. Injectors can be cleaned.

I bet it'll start.

[Will]

If you can find 2,000# of metal in it you could get $220. I sold a 600# load of bus seat frame for $66.00 a couple of weeks ago. Probably you could find $150 worth in it. They give you less for asembled engines and drivetrain parts because they have to pay minimum wage to get them disassembled and sorted. You also get less for a body because of the glass, plastic and upholstry.

Of course then you would have to give up the attractive yard ornament.

So, why was it parked in the first place? And parked with a full tank of gas?

[85_Ranger4x4]

It is a wreck, even after you get it going you will still need to fix the bodywork to get it driveable right?

I would find a similar car with a engine/transmission problem cheap, do a switcheroo and junk the leftovers.

[koda6966]

Originally Posted by 85_Ranger4x4

It is a wreck, even after you get it going you will still need to fix the bodywork to get it driveable right?
I would find a similar car with a engine/transmission problem cheap, do a switcheroo and junk the leftovers.

Only body work that's damaged is a fender and the bumper, as well as a headlight and a turn siggy. I bet that front axles toast..

Anyway, cleaned her out today and I'm going to be stripping it of anything I can test stuff on before doing it to my Ranger.

How much do you think I should get for it at a scrap yard?