Five Years parked in barn, now what?

I just bought a 1991 F-150 4x4 automatic transmission, straight 6, that has been sitting untouched in a machine shed ever since my friend's dad died. Completely untouched except for the mice and wasps and snakes and varmints that have been calling it home. Do I need to remove the rear driveshaft to tow it 35 miles? I will put the front end up on the tow dolly and unlock the steering wheel. I need advice about all the things I should do before I start it up. I am not going to attempt to start it until I remove the two (groan why two) gas tanks and clean them out. I will replace all the rubber fuel lines I can find. I plan on opening up a tap somewhere on the fuel rail as far from the gas tanks as possible and flushing out the FI components with many changes of clean gasoline. I am going to change all the fluids. I am going to buy the factory service manuals and start studying. I will appreciate all advice.

 

Being an auto transmission, they used to say no more than 30 miles at 30mph. Personally, I would MUCH prefer to get a flatbed towtruck or trailer so you can have all four wheels off the ground - much safer.

If you MUST have two wheels on the ground, wouldn't it be better to have the front wheels on? Presumably it'll be sitting there in 2wd mode (I'm assuming you're not even going to hook up a battery) so I would think (somebody correct me if I'm wrong) this'd be best since you won't be turning the transmission if it's front wheels on the ground - but I guess removing or disconnecting the rear drive shaft is a possibility, but adds a lot of work.

You should also be aware if you remove the driveshaft from the transmission, you'll spill nasty toxic ATF all over the place, as the driveshaft where it enters the transmission acts as the plug for the stuff - you can buy a cap for it, or, perhaps better, securely anchor the disconnected shaft up, and leave the end in the transmission - or, get a flatbed.

I guess just inspecting the rubber hoses for the most part is enough, I don't know about usage vs non-usage, but they could actually be in ok condition, although ALL hoses should be replaced periodically, especially cooling type ones and brake hoses -and, as you're planning to do, flush all the fluids, including power steering pump, coolant etc.

I don't know if I'd go overboard re cleaning/flushing the fuel tanks, I mean don't waste too much fuel flushing them, for one, contaminated fuel's hard to get rid of unless you have, say, an old lawnmower you don't mind burning it in.....once you've flushed the system out you could add some of that fuel conditioner stuff in, and then maybe when it's running, try some of that Seafoam stuff- many readers here swear by it, I've used it but it's too early to tell if it's doing much for me or not, but my truck, a '92 was also from a deceased estate, I bought the thing from the guy's son and it hadn't been used much since. I drove it home, so it wasn't quite in the same state as what you've got, but I've been working my way through replacing stuff -

You'll probably find the engine oil seals are crap, those things DO deteriorate/dry out through disuse, you will probably want to consider doing front and rear seals if you're going to get fancy...

Sounds like an interesting project, please give us updates so we can hear how you're going...

 

Just my $.02 but for getting it home, I would definetely go the flatbed truck or trailer. You could also take off the rear driveshaft, since it is a 4x4 and will be connected to the transfer case no fluid will spill out, it will just involve getting under the truck with all the critters.

Robbie

 

Flatbed definitely. You don't know what the bearings are like, the tires etc.

Don't forget to inspect the brakes, steering linkage etc. In other words, don't do a safety check while driving it, crawl all over the beast before you take it out on the road and then get a feel for everything before you get serious about using it as a daily driver.

You'll stay safe and so will everybody else.

 

Uh, it's a 4X4? Put the transfer case in neutral, I believe that disconnects both the front and the rear axles, shafts etc. from the tranny. Good luck on your resurrection.

 

I recommend a Rollback/flatbed or a trailer,it would be your best route. Next best way to to do it is with the front wheels off the ground with the rear driveshave disconnected

 

Whoa whoa whoa, ya'll makin it too hard for a manual transfer case, just pull to neutral. No milage or speed restrictions, and you can tow all four wheels down if you had too. Electric 4x4? Pull off the shift motor and turn the thing the motor spins to the neutral postion. Becareful not to run yourself over as park won't park anymore.

Much easier to pull the bed to get to the tanks. The 300 is tough, so I wouldn't worry too much, but i'd put a bit of oil down all six plug holes just to be safe right now.

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