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irishmantx
User
Nov 27, 2010, 10:11 PM
Post #1 of 7
(2822 views)
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1981 Ford Granada 3.3L
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Dear Tom or HammerTime,
Just a quick question, about the fuel tank. This car sat at a mechanic
shop since 2006. I've got some questions to ask:
1. When does gas begin to varnish in the tank?
2. How do I remove the tank on this car?
3. Do I need to rebuild the carb on this car or pour some fresh gas in the throat?
4. The oil in the crankcase looks 'clean' and no leaks or metallic shavings seen, should I
go ahead and change it anyway?
5. Can I still get a voltage regulator, alternator, ignition module, and coil for this car?
6. What sounds should I listen for if the motor needs to be overhauled or long block replaced?
7. Should I check the fuel pump and diaphragm for cracks or try to get the car to a service
center?
I did find the fuel supply line disconnected from the fuel pump to prevent damage? I did get
a replacement 2gauge negative battery cable, and got to put it on since the old cable is
cracked, corroded, and exposed in some areas. I did add anti-freeze 50/50 and appears to
hold. I did find a thermostat in the back seat of the car. Inside looks nice and clean. I need to
get a camera / cell phone cam to take pics. I pray this fairs better than my truck.
Shalom,
irishmantx
Michael D. Lucas
76531
"OK Chewie, Try'er now! Woah! TURN IT OFF!!"
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 3, 2010, 4:11 PM
Post #2 of 7
(2812 views)
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Re: 1981 Ford Granada 3.3L
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Lots depends on how long and old gas and oil are. If not out of control frequently SeaFoam used sparingly can help with fuel, clean carb, new fuel filter and burn up that fuel.
Why do you want to take gas tank out? Typical is unplug any wiring to gauge, remove filler neck and fight with the straps that hold it in place. Don't do that with a full tank as it's heavy to handle and spillage likely,
T
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irishmantx
User
Dec 3, 2010, 7:37 PM
Post #3 of 7
(2805 views)
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Re: 1981 Ford Granada 3.3L
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Dear Tom,
Don't know how much fuel is in the tank, it smelled 'varnishy' it sat since 2006.
The fuel line from the tank was disconnected from the fuel pump, and the cable
to the negative battery terminal is badly corroded, frayed, exposed, and also
cracked in several places. I have a replacement cable, just need to get it into
the garage or get a big piece of cardboard, a 2 1/2 or 3 ton floor jack, raise it
up to let my big beer belly underneath to replace the battery cable, lower the
car, get a battery, hook up the fuel hose and see how much gas is in the tank.
What is seafoam? I never heard of it. What about Marvel Mystery Oil? What
part stores carry seafoam? Anyways, I got the 2057 bulbs put in the truck. I
am having problems getting the replacement computer box for my truck. I did
call O'Reilly's and was told the guy at the main hub 'dropped the ball' so I did
order it again. The 'box' was priced at $79,95 with a $60.00 core charge. I did
get the main chip out of the box and been hoping the 'box' would arrive in the
morning. I think the Granada uses the 1157 bulb, so I put them in my Granada
glovebox.
Thanks,
Chag Chaunkah (Happy Hanukah!)
Shalom,
Michael D. Lucas
76531
"OK Chewie, Try'er now! Woah! TURN IT OFF!!"
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 4, 2010, 3:05 AM
Post #4 of 7
(2802 views)
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Re: 1981 Ford Granada 3.3L
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 Lots of questions but let me try..........
SeaFoam (brand name) looks like this......
STRONG SOLVENT! Use sparingly.
* Gas from 2006 is way too old. Must be drained but probably don't need to remove the gas tank. Depending it might be usable with some SeaFoam for an old lawn mower or just to clean paint brushes or something.Put a coffee filter in a funnel and fill another can with it and mark it till used up. Available at NAPA, Autozone, and other places. They also make it in shaving cream like form for carbs! Little dab will do ya with this product. Another must have is PB (power blaster) dissolves all sorts of gummy crap - careful where it goes as it can eat stuff up. Looks like this and available at the parts stores too.....
Best stuff ever but doesn't come with a spray tube - by chance some other tips will work to you can direct it better with the spay tube. By brand Gumout carb cleaner tip fits them! That or spray it in a metal can and use Q-Tips to apply to small areas as needed or use your imagination.
Hoisting/lifting car. If tight budget some cheaper ones are fine. ABSOLUTELY KNOW WHERE TO LIFT AND WHERE TO PLACE SAFETY STANDS - A MUST! NEVER TRUST A JACK OF ANY KIND ALONE! Don't cheap out on stands. Forget the ones made with stamped type metal and pins or smartly place good wood - use care and good judgement. A car falling on you is not worth the car!
Forget Marvel Mystery oil. It's mostly Auto Trans fluid and some oil IMO with a neat smell. It's kinda dated - went out with the fuzzy dice.
Happy Hanukah to you
Tom
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Dec 4, 2010, 3:07 AM)
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irishmantx
User
Dec 4, 2010, 11:10 PM
Post #5 of 7
(2788 views)
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Re: 1981 Ford Granada 3.3L
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Dear Tom,
OK! Great! Seafoam! Use sparingly! Well holiday's look bleak again. Finally got the
Engine Control Module (Computer Box) and looks like the gas tank will have to wait
till Jan, Feb, Mar, or Apr? I don't have shop of my own, and hard to ask my 79 year
old dad to help push my car around (tail facing the garage door where the stuff is at
hoping to move car around to where I can slide car in garage. (Wishful dreaming)
1 question, or two or three? Where do I drain the tank? Do I put a hole in it? Or is
there a drain plug? Cyphon it out? I honestly Don't know exactly how much gas is
left. If all else fails, (and hopefully get the motor to turn over and start using a fuel
hose to a gas can to see how engine runs...) I'll find a wrecker or a guy with a truck
and trailer and have it towed to the shop.
Oh, I did replace the 1157 bulbs with 2057 bulbs for my 1988 GMC S15, 2.5 liter, 5 speed
truck. Now I got the chip put in the box I hope this will get me one step closer to fixing
my truck. If all else fails, the assistant manager at O'Reilly's said a replacement T.B.I.
with core charge ($45 to $60 bucks?) would be about $250 or so bucks w/tax title, and
insurance? ;-) ha ha ha.
At any rate, I suspect it could be the T.B.I. faulty wire, connector or lead smoking some
loco-grass, chilling toooo much or tripping? It's the original T.B.I. Oh well. Good thing
this truck and my 1981 Granada can't get pregnant! LOL
Like Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) told Mr. Data.. "You treat her like a lady... and
she'll always bring you home."
I like to treat my vehicles as starships each having their own mission in life, and of course
be a good engineering officer to keep'em flying. :) No matter how old, or banged up, each
'lady' has a purpose and mission in life. I been rough on my S15, but I hope to make it up
to her and cherish her, hoping she'll take me to places I never been before. 1st time in
my life, I stopped in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Mostly, I hope the other ships I bring back to life
might bless me as well. Got to make sure the u-joints and other critical areas are able and
capable of doing the job. :)
If the E.C.M. don't do the trick then it's the T.B.I. and as far as the 1981 Ford Granada goes,
I hope to get the motor to turn, and see how much fuel I got in the tank. Then get her to
space dock for repairs and go from there. ;)
Oh the 1982 Ford Granada 3.3L is identical to my Granada, difference is the motor runs, and
I noticed oil with the soot out of the exhaust pipe. I took the battery cable out of the 1982
Ford Granada (mom's Granada) and used black electrical tape to distinguish between positive
and negative cables, got it taped up, put back in, and started her up, let her idle and I noticed
black oily runny stains or 'skid marks' out of the exhaust pipe. The Valve cover is leaking and
it takes more oil than normal. Is this a sign the 3.3L about to have a 'warp core breach' or
engine failure? Am I looking at total engine replacement? The engine is original since it was
bought 'used' back in 1984 its rolled over several times since then. But wanted to know the
'warning signs' of an oily-sooty exhaust stain by the tail pipe?
Please help?
Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas or:
Merry ChristmaSwanzaChanukah! :) OR:
Happy Holidays!
Seasons Greetings!
Happy Motoring!
Most High Worshipful Mistress Elvira of the Darkend Toasted Pop Tarts. :)
(sillyness due to goofyness of my mom's inherited bloodline? ) Mom's Blood,
Dad's Bones. :D
Shalom,
irishmantx
"OK Chewie, Try'er now! Woah! TURN IT OFF!!"
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 5, 2010, 4:11 AM
Post #6 of 7
(2785 views)
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Re: 1981 Ford Granada 3.3L
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I'm getting lost with three different vehicles now.
Old fuel + tank: Old fuel usually turns darker in color and the real trouble is additives (there are lots in gasoline of assorted types) go bad. Pure gasoline (near doesn't exist) would last ages by itself. When "tetra-ethyl lead" or Leaded gas was the norm the lead would separate leaving a jelly but so could other additives.
SeaFoam seems to work the best for me to dissolve that best so far. Sub note - watch out for the plastic cap - they can split from tightening back on so don't leave the can where it can tip over like in a trunk as it could damage anything around it. They may have improved that cap by now.
Getting the gas out can be done by taking out fuel neck and syphon out from there. If it's that bad you might want to take tank out to have it cleaned or might find a replacement isn't all that much money. There are no drain plugs (much older cars did have them) on gas tanks but would be nice. Don't make a hole - too hazardous and tricky to seal up. Even old gas is flammable just not with all the ratings it was sold as and the additives that may clot up AND moisture/water will collect at the bottom making rust an issue sometimes.
The straps that hold a tank typically are swinging at one end and long bolts with nuts at the other to take out. Tanks should have like tar thick paper between tank metal and vehicle's body.
If the vehicle (we have three going on in one thread now) with old gas has been in a garage things will be better off all around. The solvent with gas drained should handle the little left in tank.
Invest in fuel filters.
81 Granada 3.3 should have a 1 barrel carb like this........
Wish I could get a ton of different views of it but looks pretty simple and probably doesn't need replacement so much as cleaning up with carb cleaner - same as throttle body cleaner. Another product by the maker of SeaFoam is "Deep Creep" like a foamy cleaner.
Interesting product for carb cleaning - read labels as some is for "fogging" engines for storage more than cleaning.
________________
Engine that runs and uses oil and oily tailpipe: It may be fine if just a low use or long stored and just need a good run with new oil change. Many times engines will burn/use too much or leak oil because of bad PCV system.
____________________
Michael - we need to sort out what you are doing to which vehicle. Start a new thread as needed because we can't follow three in one thread. It would help to summarize where you are with what and make a new thread for each one needing what.
_______________________
Thing/Tools you should own: Floor jack and stands. Air pump for tires even if only one for a power port/cig lighter. Jumper box is real handy. Do keep tires at listed proper pressure and with stored cars move them or leave on blocks off floor. Tires can go bad without use - just time can ruin them, belts can separate and steel can rust inside too. A generic electric fuel pump that you can put fuel line on each end and wire to run off a power port or jumper box is real handy to have too. Can use to transfer fuel, drain tanks etc. Basic ones aren't that expensive but all things needed to do more and more car work ads up fast. Not all fuel tanks will syphon out from filler neck! Carbed engines you can rig a "T" in line and suck fuel out or after pump usually metal can sometimes get a "T" fitting in to run tanks dry only as far as the pick up sock reaches in tank so there's some left at bottom.
________________________
OReillys Auto Parts: I know they are a large chain but none near me. Autozone has the most chain stores around me - NAPA is all over the US I believe. Not thrilled with any of them but in general I've like NAPA the best but their web site is hard to use.
It's hard to know which will have the best parts as it's ever changing.
Again - a new thread stating where you are with which vehicle with summary would make this easier to follow,
Tom
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irishmantx
User
Dec 5, 2010, 8:35 AM
Post #7 of 7
(2777 views)
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Re: 1981 Ford Granada 3.3L
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Dear Tom,
I apologize about the different threads... :(
1. 1981 Ford Granada 3.3L engine. Gas may have varnished and fuel tank hose
to fuel pump found disconnected. Possibly varnishing fuel since 2006. Wonder
if it has drain plug or not? Pic of the carb is exactly what is the car! :)
(If all else fails, a tow truck to a reputable mechanic to take care of the gas tank is
what I have in mind. Don't have the luxury of a shop of my own, but can afford a
tow truck to a shop elsewhere with proper tools, and also tank flush, purge the fuel
lines as well. I just need to swap out bad battery cable with good cable, get used
battery to get engine to crank and see how much is in the tank to begin with.)
I keep the thread on this Granada only and will start a new thread on 'other'
1982 Ford Granada. Forgive me.
Shalom,
irishmantx
76531
"OK Chewie, Try'er now! Woah! TURN IT OFF!!"
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