Getting my first Comet

Hey All,
Looking into getting my first '74 Mercury Comet. It's going for $1500, the body is in good shape. White, it looks like the head liner has a tear in it, might need to be replaced. But my biggest concern is that it hasn't even been started in 4 years. So I'm assuming I have some work cut out for me. I would love ANY input as to where to begin. I'd like to be able to do the work myself, at least as much as I can. any advice on getting an owners manual, or any technical support. Thanks in advince.
Rick from Los Angeles

 

Make sure the engine spins freely before tossing the cash for it.If you do buy it,when you get it home drop the tank and drain the old gas out of it.change the oil/filter/fuel filter,pull the plugs(replace em)Squirt some oil in the cyl bores(about a tea spoon full) put a new battery in it.Check to see if it has trans fluid in the tranny.Power steering fluid is full.Brakes work,Radiator has coolant in it.Or( just stick the fuel line off the pump to the tank in a can of fresh gas,stuff a battery in it and try to fire it up).I would not suggest the latter unless you want to hear it run before you buy it.Take your time with it either way,dont rush through the car.Check it out thoroghly before buying it.Keep coming back here with your questions,lots of knowledge here from lots of great people.Good luck,hope it turns out to be a good find.

 

What he said.
And don't forget Comets rule, white Comets even more so.

 

Wow, this site rocks!! I didn't expect such a quick and very helpful response. Thanks, I will definitely keep all informed as this progresses. I'm totally stoked about the prospect and the adventure ahead. By the way, I'm very much a novice to working on cars, but very bright and good with my hands and eager to learn. Can anyone suggest what kinds and where to get a good starter set of tools?? Just some basics of what I need to get started. Luckily I rent from the owners of the car and they live across the street, so I have a place to work on it and its close Thanks in advance for the help.

 

Rick...welcome aboard and good luck with the car.
Sears would be an excellent place to get a set of tools for a very reasonable price.
Post pics of the car when you can!

 

Sitting 4 years huh? May need a trans refresh and most definetly a fuel pump.
You give that Comet a big hug for me.

 

one thing to check before you buy it is the cowl vents in front of the windshield. pour about a gallon or two of water in them and make sure none comes out inside the car. if it does it's a major pain to fix. good luck and for somme cheap, but good, tools you might want to check harbor freight. i know they have a big warehouse in camarillo but i'm sure they also have retail outlets. welcome to the board.

 

welcome

harbor fraight selle OK tools for pretty cheap. they wont last a life time but i still have plenty of their sockets, ratchets and wrenches that see regular use

so what about the car? how many doors and how many cylinders?

 

The Unvailing

Hey guys, just to keep you up to date and to help me log my journey, here are some of the first glimpses of my new project. My '74Mercuy Comet. She had been sitting under a tarp for 4 years, so this is right after I tookk the tarp off. She had been parked in a driveway with her trunk to the street. Someone had used a pri-bar to jimmy open the trunk, there are some pics of the bent latch, I guess will need replacement. So for now the trunk is a bit ajar, luckily I'm in So. California so no rain to speak of. There were a few loose paint spots on the body but free from any dents or dings!! The interior is IMACCULATE! I was pleased to see that it was green, all dashbord knobs and levers intact and functional. Needs new battery for sure there was fluid in the radiator and the dip stck indecated low. I took off the airfilter and checked all the moving parts were free.....so what next???Like I said earlier I'm pretty much a novice to all of this, but eager to learn.
Thanks in advance, and enjoy the photos........

 

Its a 2 door 8 cylinder 302

 

Check all fluid levals...
Make sure there are no buddies crawling arround under the front seat(s).
I myself would do a oil and filter change and run a piece of hose from the fuel pump into a gas can and see if she starts.
Make sure the brakes feel like they are trying to work ... hopefully the e brake don't stick if applied (either before or now).
Do not stand in line with any belts and or directly arround the battery, do not stand in front or behind the car untill you are certain of tranny engagement quality... good luck!