Billybob, when I got my 53 I was just like you, I had an old truck and wanted to learn how to fix it...except I didn't learn in a month, i'm still learning 10 months later. My 216 in my 53, it was seized from sitting out in the snow and rain with the hood off and the carb open. I should have dumped it for a full pressure 235, but I didn't know better. I tried everything, I put a 800 pound haybale on the back and towed it around in gear (that was good for it--groan--), I left diesel in the cylinders for two weeks, I also tried some kind of penetrating oil. I eventually pulled the head, and the cylinders/pistons didn't really look all that bad. I messed with it for another two weeks with the head off. My harmonic balancer had the slots for the hand crank starter, so I had a nice place to weld where I could grind it off easily. So I welded the nut on and the engine came loose just like that. I then proceeded to put the head back on, I hadn't found this site yet so I didnt get any information about stuck valves and stuff. I cranked it over, nothing happened so I pulled the valvecover...bent pushrods...(groan). Since it was unseized and almost good, I sent it to the professional mechanic and he reseated the valves and set the timing...and it ran! I'm 16 (was 15 when this happened), and if I could get it unseized, you can for sure. So I recommend that you be patient (yeah I know...I wasn't but I had to be because these things take time), have fun, and do what you want (make it something you are pround of). The best wishes to you and good luck!
