how to get an old car drivable?

[USSEnterprise]

I have an old car sitting in my garage, and want to get it drivable. I'm not saying I want to restore it, just get it moving.
Its a 1962 buick electra 225. It has a 401 nailhead and twin turbine automatic.

We did have the engine running a year ago, though not well. Carb needs some adjustments

I know I'll need to change all the fluids, filters, and bulbs. It will certainly need a brake job. What else is a necessity before driving it?

 

[Kentucky]

I have an old car sitting in my garage, and want to get it drivable. I'm not saying I want to restore it, just get it moving.
Its a 1962 buick electra 225. It has a 401 nailhead and twin turbine automatic.

We did have the engine running a year ago, though not well. Carb needs some adjustments

I know I'll need to change all the fluids, filters, and bulbs. It will certainly need a brake job. What else is a necessity before driving it?

Every fluid you can find should be changed, spark plugs & wires, belts, grease everything, check the fuel tanks, fuel lines, fuel pump, brakes, brake lines, wires and on and on... You're basically looking at 25+ years or routine maintenance that hasn't been done. I'm going through the same thing on a '74 Bronco right now. While fun it will nickel and dime you...

 

[CJ3Flyr]

I agree with Kentucky's list and would add: !) Clamps; any hoses you choose to leave unchanged tighten the clamp a 1/4 turn or so. 2) Don't forget the coolant even if it looks ok. 3) Give the valve covers and oil pan bolts a 1/4 turn. 4) Pull the drums and check for leaking wheel cylinders. 5) Finally, with something that old be very gentle driving until it's up to normal operating temperature.


Sounds like a fun progect:bigok:

 

[MikesToy]

Remember "Fast and Furious"? They towed that red beat-up supra and they revived it. lol

 

[JohnsD90]

Remember "Fast and Furious"? They towed that red beat-up supra and they revived it. lol

that car was about 3 years old when they filmed that.

 

[shawnstcyr]

Odds are your carb is full of varnish. You can pull off the carb and soak it in a carb cleaner. They make a roughly 3 gallon bucket that it will fit into. B-12 ChemTool. Some people like to run a little ATF down the carb once it is running, to clean any sticking valves. It will smoke like hell, but it works.

Also keep in mind that this car was designed to run off of the old leaded gas, meaning it doesn't have hardened valve seats. You may want to clean out that nasty gas tank and run some lead additive or 100LL aviation gas. It is blue in color and has a high lead content.