Advice on buying a stored vehicle?

**Tide** · 03-19-2009, 10:25 PM

Got the opportunity to buy a vehicle that's been in storage for 5 years. Very low miles, the body and interior are in prestine condition. No rust anywhere to be found on the body.

However, that said I'm expecting all the seals to be dry rotted, gaskets to be shot. I do expect the gas tank to be rusted.

I'm trying to get the owner to confirm if the vehicle has been cranked since coming out of storage, as well as a few other things but so far, they've not returned any of my emails.

What else can I expect from a vehicle that's been in sealed storage for 5 years?

**Modulistic** · 03-19-2009, 10:38 PM

what kind of vehicle

**blackSS01** · 03-19-2009, 10:42 PM

If it hasn't been cranked then I would pull spark plugs and squirt some oil down the cylinders. Hand cranking it a few times would be ideal to do. If it has been cranked and at least run, then that would be the best option. Tires are junk, even if sitting on stands, tires have a expiration date.

**98formy** · 03-20-2009, 06:55 AM

Make sure when you decide to start it, get some fresh gas. If there was any left in the tank, its going to be bad. You may even wany to disconnect the fuel line, plumb it to a container, and turn on the key to pump it out(electric pump). The seals and gaskets will probably be ok, the last couple of cars I bought were stored for between ten-fifteen years and those were ok. 71 mustang 351c and a big block camaro. One other thing to be concerned about would be rust on the underside of the car. Depending on where it was stored, sitting on concrete or dirt, moisture may not have anywhere to go but up and condensate on the chassis, causing rust a lot faster.

**86 IROC-Z** · 03-20-2009, 06:59 AM

I say buy it.

I car stored for 5 years is a car that hasn't been driven by a woman for 5 years.

**FasstChevys** · 03-20-2009, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by Tide

Got the opportunity to buy a vehicle that's been in storage for 5 years. Very low miles, the body and interior are in prestine condition. No rust anywhere to be found on the body.

However, that said I'm expecting all the seals to be dry rotted, gaskets to be shot. I do expect the gas tank to be rusted.

I'm trying to get the owner to confirm if the vehicle has been cranked since coming out of storage, as well as a few other things but so far, they've not returned any of my emails.

What else can I expect from a vehicle that's been in sealed storage for 5 years?

One thing I know is that over time, the PH of the antifreeze has a tendency to drop, causing it to be more corrosive. It'd be a good idea to change it out.