Freeing Up a "Stuck" engine

[345 DeSoto]

All the cars I've ever had, I've never had to break loose a stuck engine...thus my question. The Hawk I bought has been sitting in a Shop building for 40+ years. It would be a miracle if the engine isn't stuck. To free it up, without completely dismantleing it, what is the BEST way to go about it? Is it as simple as pulling the plugs and squirting oil in the cylinders?...

[Skip Lackie]

A mixture of ATF and acetone seems to be the juice de jour right now. And let it sit, with frequent additional injections, for as long as you can -- days or weeks if possible.

[TrickyRick]

PB Blaster

Kroil < preferred

Dont force it, take your time. Rotate the motor till it stops soak overnight. Rotate the motor the other direction until it stops soak overnight. Rinse & repeat.

[BILT4ME]

What Skip Lackie Said.......

[DougHolverson]

How fast does that acetone evaporate in that hole?

[jclary]

So far, you've gotten good suggestions. However, it depends on where the engine is stuck, what components are seized, as to how you should proceed. If it is merely slight corrosion or rust where the rings, pistons, and cylinders are, the penetrating oil solutions are usually sufficient. However, if the valve train is seized, you will need to remove the valve covers and attend to that area as well. Seized lifters or rocker arms could result in damage to your cam or bent push rods.

It would be nice if it rotates without having to open it up, and sometimes this is the case. That is why the advice to rock it back and forth is a sound suggestion. Better to begin with a gentle touch than break something that is not broken.

[r1lark]

There are numerous threads on the SDC forum about freeing up stuck engines; use the search function in the upper right hand corner of the page and you should come up with hours of good reading . Another good place to go is the AACA forum (http://forums.aaca.org/).

[Restobaker]

I'm going through a similar problem, my motor was stuck so I tried letting it soak with various mixtures of this and that...

what has seemed to work for me is rust-oleum rust dissolver I get it at autozone for $10.00 a quart its pricey but works.

this stuff has phosphoric acid in it so use caution and follow directions....

[55 56 PREZ 4D]

Part1 1959 Pontiac 389 resurrection for "The Find" 1956 GMC 250 Dually
ElderlyIron
Youtube.
This guy goes through a very neglected motor and shows what to look for when resurrecting a real nasty one.
It's in six parts.
WARNING !!!
If you have a need for a surgically clean, climate controlled work area, be prepared as this will definitely test you.
BUT !!! He does find a lot of problems and how to "redneck' fixes to find out if the motor is worth spending more money.

[evilhawk]

I like Ederlyiron and watched the episodes where he got the 389 running again. That engine was a mess and was sitting outside and upside down for years.

[Skip Lackie]

How fast does that acetone evaporate in that hole?

Pretty quickly, though putting the plugs back in the holes loosely will slow it down. But the point of the acetone is to thin the ATF and let it flow more freely into the rust. That happens PDQ, after which it can be allowed to evaporate.

[Flashback]

Already been said several times. Acetone & trans fld. It don't evaporate fast when mixed.

[345 DeSoto]

Does the Acetone evaporate out of the mix, or does it stay I solution?...

[ddub]

Does the Acetone evaporate out of the mix, or does it stay I solution?...

There really is no "solution". You can mix the two but they begin to separate quickly. Agitate and pour.

[conrad01]

Used diesel engine oil, and diesel fuel. Give it about a month before trying to free it. If you have a inspection camera check the bore for flash rust first. Mine was in a shed for 30 years. Did all the brakes and bearings and cleaning before I tried to free it up.