1983 C10 been Sitting since 1990 Need to make it run. Where do i start?

[michaeltennis7]

ok i just got a one owner 1983 gmc sierra it has a 6 cylinder 3 on the tree 2wd shortbed with only 82k orginal miles!!! but its been sitting since 1990 :[ it starts up it will barley idle and if it does it will die out a few seconds after. i can drive it but it wont go over 20mph. but it will rev up as if nothing was wrong with it??? what do you guys think???

[project 67 sub]

rear brakes possibly froze up???

[paintslinga2010]

I had the exact same situation with my grandpas 83. It had only been sitting since 01 though. His is a 305 though but the exact symptoms. Maybe its something similar, so I'll be watching this thread. You could try rebuilding the carb and replacing vacuum lines. I did both but neither got it to idle.

[walkerb]

new gas?

[motornut]

i would check the weights on the dizzy
remove the line from the fuel pump to the carb ,
drain and re install it
check out for cracked vac n rubber lines

[Pyrotechnic]

Leaving a vehicle to sit is a lot harder on it than daily driving.

First, why was it parked? Was there something wrong with the motor like an overheating issue or a popped head gasket? Did the owner get a new vehicle and leave that one sitting? Try to find out if it ran when parked.

If it ran when parked:

-Rebuild carb - it's probably gummed up and causing the issues you're having
-ALL new fluids
-Replace all rubber hoses
-Fresh spark plugs and wires for sure, cap and rotor if needed
-Drop the gas tank and clean it, replace filter sock
-Shoot some solvent into the metal fuel lines and blow them out
-Go through the brakes completely - you just can't trust brakes that have been sitting that long