I just inherited this vehicle that has been sitting for the last 3 years. I can't even remember the last time I drove a carbureted vehicle and can't seem to find a mechanic who works on "old cars" . . . though I did find one who wants to charge over $500 for a tune-up. One guy says it sounds like it's running on 6, maybe 7 cylinders. Admittedly, I know virtually nothing about auto mechanics, so the only things I've done is changed the air filter and have been running its first tank of mid-grade gas with 2 bottles of SeaFoam added. TIA for all suggestions/comments.
Well of course you'd start with something that old by changing the spark plugs and the spark plug wires. The distributor cap rotor. And it was still running crappy. It might just need a new carburetor hardly anybody fixes those old things but you can get stuff like Edelbrock replacement carburetors that just bolt on that work perfectly fine for many auto parts store
Don't use Seafoam, it was designed for 2-stroke outboard motors. A PEA-based cleaner like Techron would be far preferable. Change the fuel filter as well. Hopefully the fuel lines are not plugged up with varnish from old gas.
After sitting for 3 years the fuel system probably needs a good cleaning and the carb overhauled. (Carb is likely gummed up inside.) Check condition of spark plugs, wires, distributor cap, and rotor. Cars from the late 1970s have crude yet fiendishly complex emission systems with miles of vacuum hose and gadgetry. Make sure you don't have any vacuum leaks. A compression test to verify internal engine condition wouldn't be a bad idea. Really, after 44 years just about everything needs to be considered suspect.
Your best bet is probably to find an older mechanic in your area, maybe one who is retired but still doing some part-time work out of a home shop. Most younger mechanics today are stymied by any car they can't plug a scan tool into for diagnosis.
