hello ive just joined the forum as i have started to rescue a yellow 1998 coupe 20vt that has been sat for about 13 years.
i managed to get the rear brake pads out last night (solid with rust)and going to try and free off fronts later on today.
anyway just looking for info on things to look out for whilst trying to get this in running order again. going to move it a few miles down to my house. before starting should i put new oil in it etc
Pat

Hello and welcome PJ. Plenty of info here to help you.
Maybe you could start a thread in the projects area about your coupe and people can help you as you need it.
Good luck.

Good Morning, Pat - and welcome!

You should find all the info you could conceivably want here (and not just about coupés...).

You will also find a thriving Coupe scene in Scotland, so help and advice will be (relatively) close at hand.

Good luck with your restoration - there's a projects section if you want to tell us about how it's going.

Have a great weekend!

If it's been standing 13 years you will need to change *at a minimum*

- all fluids (coolant, oil, brake - you might get away without changing the gearbox fluid in the short term)
- cam and auxiliary belts
- brake pads and discs
- tyres (irrespective of tread depth)

You should inspect carefully and change if required

- brake pipes
- flexible brake pipes
- exhaust

And check everywhere for rust, but particularly the underside close to the back seat, the boot, and the bottoms of the front wheel arches.

Don't even try to start the engine; turn it over only by hand to make sure the bores are free and then change the belts.

I'm not trying to scare you off here - but I'd rather see you frightened than being pulled from a wreck.

p.s. welcome to the forum!

As usual, Joe has beaten me to it!

Hi welcome... and all the best with your new project

Hi and welcome Pat

Very unusual to find such a low mileage coupe - was it local? Garaged?

I'm afraid what Barnacle said is true, extensive though it sounds, but with coupe-lerv and endless patience, not forgetting the acceptance of having to fling some hard-earned at it, you should get all the fun out of it you've always hankered after

Odd that mine is parked up perhaps only within spitting distance of you right now as I'm in Telford, but back in the hive tonight

Fire up your questions on here and the local lads will do what they can to point you in the right direction for garages, parts, specialists etc., perhaps even save you a bob or two

thanks for all the info and replies. im getting the car for free so im not too bothered about spending a few quid on it
owner has said that the engine was turning over a few years ago when it was last tried.Has been lying in a garden for years after it was parked up by this guys son who had just been given a porsche by his dad. They seem pretty flush. Just stopped off to ask after I've been looking at it for last 9 years just insight through a bush. Supposedly it ran fine but just neglected after said porsche was given.
[IMG]http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/...ku2dj.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/...mkd1g.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/...sfw9f.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/...vdfhz.jpg[/IMG]

this is how its been lying since 2003ish
[IMG]http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/...dkq7k.jpg[/IMG]

Hi there, I am in the same boat having found a "T" plated 20v coupe which had sat since 2001
Advise given is spot on.
I have slowly been checking my "rescue" out and one thing I did do was take all the spark plugs out and then tipped some diesel / parafin mix down the bores.
You can use flushing oil or similar.
As the engine hadn't been turned for many a year I was worried that the pistons might of been stuck.
Left it for a while and then turned the engine over by hand, seems alright - next job is to get it in the garage and really start working on it rather than "tinkering".....

If this is where it's been sitting since 2003, then it's been reasonably protected from the weather.

Trying to tow from rear. Best place?

Welcome, nice find and a great colour

It's ok I found it

Did you find the tow eye in boot?

Nah I found a big loop thing under the rear bumper just to the right. Not been towed yet
But hoping to have the car moved within the next few days

Sorted your pics Pat - the links weren't working for me anyway.
Next time click Direct link next to your photobucket pic then copy it into the blue rectangular screen (having clicked on it) 4th from the left above the reply box

why would someone let a nice car like that site around for 13 years doing nothing. What a shame.

Pj.M you have PM.

Think you will find that this loop is a "tie-down" point and not a towing eye. In the tool roll, (if it is still with the car), you should find a towing eye which will screw in above the "loop" you mention. Just open the flap in the skirt and all will be revealed.
The front one screws in on the same side, through the outside slot below the "bumper".

As Possum says don't use that as it it wont end well. If there is no tow eye in the boot I'll lend you one. If there is - stick a bit grease on the end and open the hatch in the bumper and you will see the thread you screw it on to. if you are turning it round to tow it and not winching it straight back on to a truck ; Then there is one in the front also, accessible through the front lip.

Are you towing or trucking it ?

Thanks guys I didn't see a toolkit in the boot anywhere but I will have a better look when I'm back up.
Lego it's getting trucked down to my house but was just going to pull the car out of its position that it's in just now.

I have been up and freed all the brakes off but I noticed that the front wheels were still quite stiff to turn so I wasn't sure if that was something to do with the gearbox oil or just having 1 front wheel off the ground at a time

Lift out the spacesaver spare to see if the tool kit is lurking under there.

Does it have "locking" wheel bolts? The "special socket" to remove them may also be in the wheel well.

Yeah I found the locking wheel nuts lying beside the spacesaver, will check under it later on

If you can wait that long we'll bring a towing eye later this week

If you're there again remove aforementioned towing eye blanking plate in rear bumper and lubricate the thread

You might find the jack under the spacesaver too...

still trying to work out how to get pics on here

Upload them to your Photobucket, choose the Direct link to your photo and copy it, open the blue rectangular box above your Reply screen on here, paste in the copied link. It'll come up sandwiched between 'imgpops' in square brackets. Preview your post to make sure it works.

Try 'Quote' on a post which has a photo in, you'll see....

Another FIAT that has been sitting since 2009 I am planning to rescue if the guy can find the keys or split as it is pretty far gone lol

Wow!

Looks like it's had a good few slugs and snails crawling over it judging by the trails.

Hoping all the green mould and slime have protected the paint lol