'98 3.8 Stored for 15+ years.
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Joined: Oct 2019
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'98 3.8 Stored for 15+ years.
Hello everyone!
Let me start by saying I am still digging through the information that is here on the forums, such a great resource here, thank you to everyone adding their knowledge!
I am starting to get a 1998 Monte Carlo 3.8 running, it has been sitting in a garage for the past fifteen or so years, I have zero idea the last time it was started. The car has around 25,000 miles.
I just put it up on stands and I will be giving it a really good once over this afternoon. I will be doing all the obvious, fluid changes and checking brakes and cleaning out old gas. Everything under the hood so far has looked great, no obvious cracking or leaks and nothing made a home in there.
Just wondering if anyone has any tips for areas that might be a problem on this car I should look for? Trying to get this running for my mother, she will not be driving it hard or anything, we just want it to be a good running car for her. It had no problems when it was put away, so I imagine only the length of the storage will be what causes any issues to creep up, I hope!
Thanks in advance.
Let me start by saying I am still digging through the information that is here on the forums, such a great resource here, thank you to everyone adding their knowledge!
I am starting to get a 1998 Monte Carlo 3.8 running, it has been sitting in a garage for the past fifteen or so years, I have zero idea the last time it was started. The car has around 25,000 miles.
I just put it up on stands and I will be giving it a really good once over this afternoon. I will be doing all the obvious, fluid changes and checking brakes and cleaning out old gas. Everything under the hood so far has looked great, no obvious cracking or leaks and nothing made a home in there.
Just wondering if anyone has any tips for areas that might be a problem on this car I should look for? Trying to get this running for my mother, she will not be driving it hard or anything, we just want it to be a good running car for her. It had no problems when it was put away, so I imagine only the length of the storage will be what causes any issues to creep up, I hope!
Thanks in advance.
Monte Of The Month -- August 2014
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 25,145
From: Southeast PA
The engine probably won't give you any issues. These damn engines are tanks and can take some serious abuse. Flush the old gas, replace the fuel filter and put new gas in and see what it does! I would also flush the other fluids, especially coolant.
The biggest things will be the suspension. You'll have to check all of that out, make sure the rubber hasn't broken up.
The biggest things will be the suspension. You'll have to check all of that out, make sure the rubber hasn't broken up.
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6,446
Definitely keep a close eye on the fuel connections - injectors, fuel rail to flex line connector, etc when you first prime the fuel. Would hate hose down the engine with gas and cause a fire due to some rotten o rings.
Second concern would be brakes. Check the flexible lines and the calipers. Give them a hard press in the garage and if ok also do a few hard stops in a safe spot to make sure nothing is cracked / leaking.
Dont be super surprised if the engine / trans leaks a bit out of the typical seals when you get it back on the road. Seems like age and sitting is just as hard as high mileage on some of them.
Second concern would be brakes. Check the flexible lines and the calipers. Give them a hard press in the garage and if ok also do a few hard stops in a safe spot to make sure nothing is cracked / leaking.
Dont be super surprised if the engine / trans leaks a bit out of the typical seals when you get it back on the road. Seems like age and sitting is just as hard as high mileage on some of them.
Last edited by bumpin96monte; Oct 15, 2019 at 08:03 AM.
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