Newbie

[71 Marquis]

Hi.
I am trying to help my neighbour. He is retired and has a 1971 Marquis 402.
I will try a search to look through this forum to help him get his car road ready.
He had to move it after storage for many years, it started but once it got to road speed, smelt awful (I was told) and it would stall. Idles ok but that is all.
He did mention the lead additive was used.

Suggestions? I will search too.

Hello and thanks for taking any time to help me help out my neighbour.

[88Vic]

to GMN.

[87vicFIVEO]

Welcome to gmn mang......

Where are you located???

[Dave84]

welcome, you should post that question in the tech section,,,

[nitroracer]

How long was the car sitting?

If you want to make it road ready change all of the fluids; oil, antifreeze, brakes, trans, etc. Check your tires for dry rot and flat spots. Check the brakes for wear, leaks, stuck calipers. Suspension and steering should have minimal play, if a bushing is too worn look for a replacement. The carb probably needs to be cleaned and probably the gas tank too. Find a rebuilt kit for the carb and get all of the old gummed up gasoline out of it.


Im sure someone else will chime in with more to look over.


Good luck with the car!

[Mr. Land Yacht]

to GMN!
sorry, I can't help with that problem, but welcome mang.

[Grand Marquis GT]

The lead additive would be a good idea for those old heads...

Plugs, wires, air filter, oil/coolant change, belts, hoses, and probably a new set of points wouldn't hurt, and probably make it run like new!

Pics of this tank?

[grandpaslincoln]

Welcome!

[Nathan in MI]

Welcome! When you say it smelled awful, do you mean the car itself or the exhaust?

[Mr. Land Yacht]

with the age of that car...maybe both.

[DanHool]

71' my parents were in elementry school or middle school

[Lincolnmania]

the gas is probably really old and bad......need to get the old gas out, and some fresh premium.....rebuild the carb, give it a tune up

[1987cp]

to GMN!

+1 for getting a siphon pump to get rid of the ages-old gasoline; that can cause its own share of problems right there. I'm not familiar with the 402 engine; I assume you're talking about the 402ci modified-Cleveland-design engine known as the 400 Modified?

Easiest solution overall, assuming the motor is okay mechanically, might be to throw on a new/rebuilt carb and distributor, perhaps just stock replacements from AutoZone, and go from there. It's more expensive than a rebuild kit (maybe $300 versus about $20), but if that's not a big issue, it can save a lot of headaches. For not a lot more money, it's possible to upgrade to an aftermarket carb such as an Edelbrock 1406 (about $270 new; should bolt to a factory four-barrel intake) and convert to electronic ignition such as the later Duraspark system. Also can't hurt to change the fuel filter between the pump and the carb, as well as the pickup screen inside the fuel tank. I've got two extra screens laying around, one for the 5/16" pickup and one for 3/8", if that helps.

[Grand Marquis GT]

It may also be a 429...

[Mr. Land Yacht]

one can only hope. :banana: