It's probably bad connections at the starter wires causing it not to turn over. I doubt if the engine is frozen.

Most Z's have a drain plug on the bottom of the tank, I'm not sure about an 81. I can check tonight if you want me to, I've got an 81 turbo at home.

Change fluids, check and change hoses and belts. Look for dry rotted tires. When you drain the gas check to see if any rust is present, tanks have a habit of rusting as they are sitting.

Look under the carpet to make sure you have a floorboard. Finally search archives to find lots of good info.

The people on this forum are generally pretty smart and a lot of help. Dennis sent me a good checklist a while back about checking a Z car after it has set up for a while. Mice tend to eat wiring also, they liked the spark plug wires on my 73.

 

You say there is now distributor, maybe you should get one of those first.

Then Randy had a good list to start with.

Clean battery cable or buy new ones.

 

Greg:

The very first thing to do is to empty the gas from the gas tank by unscrewing a bolt at the bottom of the tank. Remove the tank and sending unit to the fuel gauge. Look to see how bad the rust is? Replace the fuel hoses and check the fuel and vent lines running to the front of the engine to make sure they are clear. Flowing air through the lines will determine whether there is blockage. If the tank is rusted, etc., you will need to take it to a radiator shop for boiling and recoating the inside and outside.

Also, you should replace the fuel gauge sending unit while the tank is removed. This is the very first thing that I regreted not doing to my Z that sat for 5 years before waking it up.

Your fuel injectors are proably going to be plugged and need replacing after sitting that long.

Once you get a new distributor and install it, you may have better luck waking it up. The electrical contacts are probably going to need cleaning too.

You're in for a learning experience on the learning curve as you begin to wake it up.

I would also flush the old radiator fluid out of the radiator and try to clean it out with brushes if possible to prevent overheating symptoms once you get it started.

Check out the sensors on the thermostat housing; they may have to be replaced once your car is woken up and displays a variety of symptoms. Check the fuses, etc., etc.

The tank should be corrected first though before trying to start it. Good luck.....

 

i have a new battery for it.

is the starter right down from the battery and over a little? the main postive wire goes right to this spot.

is there any additive that i can use to ungunk the fuel injectors? i tried draining the gas, but there was no plug. where is it?

is there anyting i could do to suck the gas out?? my friend has a 69 datsun 2000 roadster and it sat in his garage for over 18 yrs and all he did was drain the gas, put new spark plugs in and it started!

the tank is not rusty at all on the outside, but i cannot see inside of it.

but lastly

my main goal is to see if the engine is or isnt seized or frozen. then from there if it isnt then i can start ordering parts (dist, maybe a starter, all that good stuff)
i dont want to start buying parts for a car that has a seized engine that i will have to get rid of...

see where im comin from?

 

i have a new battery for it.

is the starter right down from the battery and over a little? the main postive wire goes right to this spot.

is there any additive that i can use to ungunk the fuel injectors? i tried draining the gas, but there was no plug. where is it?

is there anyting i could do to suck the gas out?? my friend has a 69 datsun 2000 roadster and it sat in his garage for over 18 yrs and all he did was drain the gas, put new spark plugs in and it started!

the tank is not rusty at all on the outside, but i cannot see inside of it.

but lastly

my main goal is to see if the engine is or isnt seized or frozen. then from there if it isnt then i can start ordering parts (dist, maybe a starter, all that good stuff)
i dont want to start buying parts for a car that has a seized engine that i will have to get rid of...

see where im comin from?

 

Greg:

I thought the same thing about the fuel tank, but starting your car with sediment and other stuff in the tank will result in more work than I think you would like to contend with down the road.

Please reconsider removing the tank to at least peak inside to see how bad the sediment and rust problem is. starting your car is the very least of your problems right now. Although, you could try starting it to see if the injectors are plugged.

If it starts though, I would turn it off soon and plan on removing the tank and checking the hoses before running it. Patience is hard. I know, but 9 years is a long time for a car to be sitting. Also, if you start the car and the fuel gauge does not work, that may be an indicator that your sending unit is rusted up. Good luck.