ok, my name is Carl and i am a vw mechanic, and this is my first old chevy. i bought a 1929 international series coupe that had been stored in a barn for the past 30 years. it is all complete and and has zero rust. i plan on restoring it someday, but dont have the funds right now. I would like to know what would need to be done to get it running. i have thought of the carb rebuild it would need, so i got that down, but what else? it will just be an around town car. i put diesel in the cylinders, and it drained so i know the motor isnt froze. thanks for the input

before you try to start the engine pull the valve cover and check for stuck valves, oil them up really good where they enter the valve guides and where the rocker arms ride on the rocker shaft. (I use PB Blaster the first time) tap on the rocker arm above the valve stem if you hear and feel a solid thud, that valve may be stuck in the valve guide, if you try to turn over the engine with a stuck (closed) valve it will break something, rocker arm or bend a pushrod.

Good luck with your Chevy Project!

Hi There and welcome to Chevy Chatter!! Okay, here are several things that you should do after the car has been sitting for 30 years, and they are in no particular order:

1. Drop the gas tank and have it totally boiled out. Check for rust and holes inside of the tank. Also test the sending unit when it is out of the tank to make sure that it works. Replace or recoat the floats on the sending unit.

2. Clean all fuel lines.

3. Rebuild the fuel pump

4. Drop the oil pan and thoroughly clean it, and replace the oil pan gaskets. Also add fresh oil

5. Drain the block and radiator and flush until clean. Put in a 50/50 mix of water and anti-freeze and check for leaks.

6. Rebuild the carburetor.

7. Replace the points, rotor, condenser, cap and spark plug wires on the distributor.

8. Replace the spark plugs.

9. Remove and test the coil.

10. Run a compression test after priming the system with oil.

11. Adjust the valves.

12. Clean the comm. on both the generator and starter armatures.

13. Drain and replace the rear end oil.

14. Give the car a complete lube job and check the drive train.

15. Drain and refill the transmission with fresh oil.

16. Replace the fan belt and the radiator hoses.

17. Install a fresh battery and see if you have continuity to your lights, ignition, gauges and etc. Also, check the electrolock to see if you have continuity to the points in the distributor.

18. If you are going to drive the car then new tires and tubes would be recommended.

19. Replace the valve cover gasket and the push rod cover gasket.

20. Replace the grease in the water pump grease cup and in the distributor grease cup.

21. Clean the oil pump screen.

22. Check for stuck valves before starting the engine.

23. Clean and relube the speedometer cable.

24. Lightly oil the speedometer worm and drive gear inside of the speedometer head.

Good luck with your project and let us know how you make out. If you have any questions, post them here for the answers.

geez,that was a quick reply. i hope to start working on it by the end of winter. i am spending the winter cleaning out my parents garage for a workshop, so it will take some time to finish before i can work on it, but thanks.

Sure! Glad to help out! Also, for more information and help, and a great monthly magazine too, you might think about joining the Vintage Chevrolet Club of America. An application form can be found on the club's web site.

newbie: you won't find a more informative bunch than the VCCA guys who frequent this site. good luck with your 29. the JunkYardDog and chipper know their stuff. mike

while im here, where can i get all of the wood framing for the body and trunk? i find it all the time for fords at local swap meets here, but when i ask about chevy wood i get a blank stare.

You can get everything you need, including a complete wood kit, from Auto Wood Restoration in Hanna, Indiana. The dude to talk to is Jim Rodman and tell him that the Junkyard Dog told you to call. His phone number is: (219)797-3775

thanks a bunch. this forum is awsome!

Cool! Glad that you enjoy it!

DITTO........!