Not an owner but help needed!

[jacob666]

Hello all my name is Jacob. I'm from Michigan

I do not own a Shelby unfortunately, but I am helping my friend get his back on the road. It is a '68 GT500 Presidential Metallic Blue.

I am here for tech support if we run into any, but hopefully we wont run into anything major.

However I do have a question. It has been sitting for almost 7 years now. Body is in still nice shape but the original paint is flaking, not too bad. The engine was in fine running condition before it was stored. But due to sitting for 7 years i'm sure the gas is too old, gaskets should be replaced etc. So my question is, what all would you recommend be replaced/inspected prior to attempting to start it?

Thank you very much and have a great day!

[jbarela]

flush the gas tank for sure...change the oil...before you do all that see if you can still turn the engine crank by hand(rachet with socket of course) if no turny then you will have to rebuild as mositure can build up in the cylinder walls an rust happens and freezes up the pistons ....just my two sense...I am sure some master mechanics will chime in though...

Welcome to the fourm...I am very very new here ...like two weeks now..and only have been asking questions so now I feel like I got to contribute a little...anyhow this is a great forum with a great group of men who realy help out with info .....

Hope that helped..

Oh yea make sure you still have water in the radiator/engine...an engine flush would be nice...

[DJR]

After sitting for 7 years every fluid will need to be changed. Pull the plugs and squirt some oil in the bores and see if you can turn the engine over by hand. I think it's a 15/16 bolt on crank damper. If you can great. With fresh oil pull dist. and spin oil pump to get pressure. Gas in carb. will be varnish by now so you'll have to take it off and make sure the jet etc. are clear. Plus fuel filter will be must likely plugged. You can run a line to a 5 gallon can just to see if it will run if you don't flush the fuel lines and tank. Before seeing if it will start first make sure you have spark. Then put plugs back in.

Make sure to have a fire extinguisher on hand.

[Coralsnake]

I have not run across a 68 Shelby that is Presidential Blue (dark). Are you sure it's not Acapulco Blue / Code "D" ?

[jacob666]

Thanks guys you've been very helpful so far. I'm sure I'll have more questions in the future.

And how would I go about figuring out which color it is exactly? and the owner says its original paint (from the flaking here and there I think it is)
here is a picture:



also, how do I determine EXACTLY what engine it has in it? (427/428/etc) Its a GT500 not KR (I know KR's are insanely rare) so i dont think its a cobra jet. The valve covers say "Le Mans" though valve covers can be changed. So how do I figure out exactly what it is?

[firestanggt]

Originally Posted by jacob666

also, how do I determine EXACTLY what engine it has in it? (427/428/etc) Its a GT500 not KR (I know KR's are insanely rare) so i dont think its a cobra jet. The valve covers say "Le Mans" though valve covers can be changed. So how do I figure out exactly what it is?

If it is the original engine, then it would be a 428 PI. The KR had the CJ and they are not really all that rare.

As mentioned, definitely have a fire extinguisher, or two, on hand.

As far as dumping a little oil in the cylinders before starting it, I have found that marvel mystery oil works excellent for engines that have been sitting.

[TLEA]

Interesting color. Do you have a picture of the buck tag, door tag or build sheet? What car # is it (last 4 digits of Shelby VIN)?

[crzy4shelbys]

After sitting for 7 years presumably without having the engine turned at all, I'd be a little concerned about one or more valve springs being fully compressed, or close to it, for all that time. Once the engine fires, wouldn't it be possible to float a valve? Anyone share that concern, or is it not valid for one reason or another?

Very cool car. Thanks for posting the picture. What's you friends goal for the restoration? Does he want to build a nice driver, or? You should check out Pete's website www.thecoralsnake.com . It's dedicated to '68 Shelby's and he has a tremendous amount of information available on there.

Good luck,

Josh

[jacob666]

Originally Posted by TLEA

Interesting color. Do you have a picture of the buck tag, door tag or build sheet? What car # is it (last 4 digits of Shelby VIN)?

no I do not, but I can get it/some. What/where is the "buck tag"?

Goal for restoration: at this point the goal is to get it running again. From there sometime in the future a paint job. Because although it is the original paint and hate to get rid of it, it is flaking around the cowl and on the roof. It needs some interior repair but actually its in fairly nice shape

On the subject of paint tho, he was considering adding stock spec white racing stripes. What do you think of the idea? if it didn't come originally with them would it decrease the value even at stock spec size etc?

[crzy4shelbys]

If I had a real '68 Shelby, I wouldn't add LeMans stripes, only because none of them ever came from the factory with them. A lot of them wear them now, but those are not original stripes. I like the look of the stripes, so I think they have a place on clones, but for the real deal, I wouldn't do it. It's all personal preference, though. If he likes the look, it's his car. He should do whatever he wants to make it more enjoyable for him. If he were doing a concours resto, the answer would be no way, no how.

[TLEA]

Originally Posted by jacob666

no I do not, but I can get it/some. What/where is the "buck tag"?

Its screwed onto the top of the right rear fender apron next to the hood hinge. Series of letters/numbers stamped into a 2"x3" plate

[Coralsnake]

Color is on the door tag (in the form of a code)

On the buck tag and on the build sheet. Anyone want to bet it is not originally Presidential Blue? (Friendly of course)

[DeLa1Rob]

I agree with you that it is most likely a repaint. I haven't seen that many original factory paints that flake (not counting light colored Detroit cars of the '80's).

robin

[jacob666]

Alright there was no tag on the door, but there was the serial number on a tag on the driver front fender under the hood.

8T02S129642-00825

[TLEA]

No registry info on 825. Is there a buck tag? It would be by the passenger side hood hinge screwed on to of the apron.

[TLEA]

Originally Posted by jacob666

Alright there was no tag on the door, but there was the serial number on a tag on the driver front fender under the hood.

8T02S129642-00825

Still curious if bucktag is present but heres a little info for your friend. #825 was originally Highland green w/saddle interior. I bet if you pop the back seat out you'll see some traces of the green.

[jacob666]

alright apparently the VIN # and the serial number are different?

the code on the windshield (VIN #) is not the same as the serial number on the metal plate on the fender. Can't remember what exactly it was, forgot to write it down but its 6XX. not 825

also the door tag was there i just missed it. According to it "Color = R" ...red?

[crzy4shelbys]

TLEA was spot on. A color code of "R" is Highland Green.

Josh