The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop got motor to move a little...

just got home with a 1955 second series 3/4 ton truck I bought today and the PO had informed me that he could not get the engine to turn over. He had towed it around and tried to use the trans to turn the motor over, no go. When I got home, I squirted some rest penetrant into each cylinder, and used a 3/4 inch drive breaker bar and pipe to move the engine by turning the crank at the balancer. It moved, but with some resistance, has a spot where it gets pretty tight!
Was thinkin there is probably a rusty spot in one of the cylinders and the rings wont slide past it?
Does anyone have any sugestions b4 I take the pan off and the head off to pull the pistons one at a time and inspect. I will most likely need to order new rod, main bearings, and new rings. WHat do you think? Brian

Lots of penetrating oil, lots of time, and quit twisting on the front of the crankshaft. If there's a bolt in the end of the crank you'll break it off or strip the threads using that much force. Take the sheet metal cover off the bottom of the bellhousing and use the chisel end of a shepherd's crook wrecking bar on the flywheel teeth. Turn the crankshaft until it gets tight, then back up and turn the other way. Keep going back and forth and eventually you'll get a complete turn. There's a good possibility there will be some permanent pits in the cylinder walls where the rings have rusted to them that will require reboring the engine and new pistons, but get it running if possible first and see how bad the compression loss and/or oil consumption is. You might get lucky.
Jerry

You could also put it in high gear and rock it back and forth.

Pour Hydrogen Peroxide in eack CYL and let sit over night. I have used this on many seized engines and it worked every time I used the peroxide. Get the small bottles and pour 1/2 bottle in each cyl. When trying to turn the eng by the damper bolt or flywheel, do it in a back and forth motion a little at a time. Don't try to keep turning the eng the same way. Back and forth little by little.

I was using a 3/4 inch breaker bar on the balancer end of the crank ONLY because there was a 3/4 inch square recess in the end of the crank there to be used for just that purpose. I would not have torqued on a bolt that hard, sorry if I came across that way.
Anyhow, I can turn the motor over via the starter and it makes complete revoutions. Just doesn't turn quick enough to fire off. Thanks for all the suggestions though. Brian

I would pull the spark plugs and let the starter turn the eng over. Does it crank the same as it did with the plugs in or faster? If it cranks over faster I would make sure the battery is fully charged.

Okday, filled cylinders with diesel fuel, screwed spark plugs in. LEt sit overnight. THis morning I drained the oil, replaced with fresh oil, and hooked up a temporary fuel tank and line. Turned engine over via a new battery and found the points and condensor to be bad. ( Swapped out ones from a 216 I had sittin) NOw that I had spark I put the plug wires on it and tried to get some kind of life out it?
I wasnt sure of the firing order when placing the plug wires on, so after about 1/2 hour of no fire, I checked the firing order of the 216. Figured it had to be the same? Changed the no2 cyl. with the no. 4 cyl BANG!! It made noise, adjusted the distributor setting and man o man! This thing purrs.! Come to find out that it has been sitting inside an old barn for a number of years and hasn't been started since 1977!!!

Now for the bad news,...I was pulling it around my yard with the lawn mower to put it in a better spot .... my son was steering it...( with no brakes)....after he turned a corner....he stoped steering for an unknown reason!!!??????? Ran right into the back our 1950 3100 parts truck, crunched the PERFECT HOOD AND GRILLE!! I immediatley felt like throwing up! I even started to cry! A truck that was supposed to be driviable by next weekend now needs 1500$ worth of bodywork. I am soooooo mad! I just can't win? Am I the only one with this kinda luch? So, I suppose I am in the market for a grille and Hood. THE DAMAGE Brian

I hope your not mad at your son, but mad at the situation...
(How old/big is he anyway?) How fast were you going with that lawn mower??
Your link did not work...

Frank,
I was mad at the time yes, but looking back,....I wasn't sure if I made my son feel guilty or not? That surely wasn't my intention and after thinking hard about it, I asked grant, (my 9 yr old son) to meet me back on the tailgate of the 55.
After sitting there for a bit drinking a couple cold ice teas, he asked me what's up? I asked him how he felt about what happened and what he thought we could have done different to change the outcome?
His response to me made me both proud and humble at the same time.
He said, " Dad, not only have I got lots to write about in my journal in school this year, but I know that you love me more than that old truck.
I was so confused!? I mean , I do love my sons more than I can express, but what happened that made him feel that way.
SO I said, " Why do you say that Grant"

HE told me that" as soon as the two trucks collided,(at really no more than a gentle roll) I jumped off of the lawn mower ran over to the door and opened it quicker than snot! (my sons' quote, don't know exactly how quick snot is but....) the first thing you asked me was if I was alright and that made me feel loved dad. OH yeah and dad, next time I will drive the mower.K?"

I tell you what, my 9 yr old made me so proud that I told him not to worry about that stupid dent cuz I have done way worse than that before. And someday when he is older I will tell him all the details of those mistakes.. LOL.. pic of the OOOPS

You're a good Dad, Brian.
You have a good son.

Way to go dad!


That 55 looks fixable. Good luck.