Thread: locked up engine

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My friend has a locked up engine he says that it was rebuilt 2 years ago but it has been sitting, does anybody know a good way to brake it free.

first question you need to ask him...how tight was it when he first fired er up...if it took more than a 500 amp battery somethings wrong

We just tryed to turn it by hand with a braker bar and deep weld socket set it is out of the car.

You could take the spark plugs out, squirt some automatic transmission fluid in the cylinders and let it sit for a couple of days, then try turning it over (with plugs out) But if it's that corroded, it will probably have damaged the cylinders and be a smoker. But I've seen some guys get lucky, so its worth a try anyhow.

He said he was trying something similiar like that but using WD40 he has just starting doing that a couple of days ago thought.Thanks for the reply,s you guys are pretty quick.

LOOK at each spark plug you pulled out of the heads, if any of them have rust you have big problems. If you soak the cylinders with atf or wd-40 let them set 3 days. Then try to turn it . If you still can't turn it , drain the oil out of the pan , remove the pan and loosen one main cap at a time. Each time you do this , retighten the main cap to spec's if the engine does'nt turn free. If you've done all the mains and it still will not turn then do the rods the same way. If you find that you loosen a rod cap and it turns, STOP. Now check that cap and all others to make sure they were installed the correct way on the corresponding rod !! if all is correct and it does not turn buy hand the the rings are rusted to the cylinders...year it down.

Thanks dozzer you live across the mountain from where, I live.But when we took the spark plugs out it was no rust so that is a good sine.But we will try turn it over probably tommorow since he put that WD40 in it the other day and if that don,t do it I will try what you said.He,s got a automic transmission bolted up with it so it will probably be a pain to work with it, we will have to unbolt it and shake it until comes a loose. Thanks Again Dave

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WD40 is no good for that usage, you need a good penetrating oil. Or try an old restorer's trick, iodine! It works!

sounds like the rings are frozen to the cylinders, if they break them when it frees itself you will have serious problems. when in doubt tear into it and check the cylinders for rust etc.....when I store my car for the winter i always squirt oil in the cylinder, crank it over by hand a couple times, put plugs back in and loosen all the rocker arms, this relaxes the springs when sitting for long durations. I was lucky when i bought my car ...the original motor was rebuilt but sat for 5 years not running at all. I used a good oil in the cylinders and let it sit for a couple days....turned it easily by hand and then fired it up......lucky........if your motor is in decent shape, might just need to be reringed.....bearings might be ok.....but in the long run it will be way better to deal with a ring problem now then later on.

Okay thanks guys, we tried the WD40 and today it did not budge so I am going to use some of the other methods you all told me and if that don,t do it we will just tear her down.Thanks Dave

Even when you do get it loose, IMO a tear down and inspection of the entire assembly would be in order. At the very least I am quite sure the block will need a good hone. You would probably also want to check to ensure that none of the valves are stuck in the guides, nor any of the lifters stuck in their bores. Like I said, JMO

just to add...might want to get an oil pump primer and prime the bearings in the block......always good to have fresh oil handy at the bearings when your trying to rotate it........but sounds like a tear down would be the safest way to go

Funny how a worn out POS never sticks, just the good, tight ones.

Do yourself a favor and after ya get it freed up, pull it down and rebuild it or your gonna have lots of greif & frustration