Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for MORE wrenching? 
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 323 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 323 | So yesterday I took a look at the 216 in the 37(supposedly it ran 2 years ago)it will turn over using a bar on the crank.The oil looks surprisingly clean, but not to clean. Took off the air cleaner and looked down the carb oh oh I see water down there. Now there is no water in the oil.And it will turn over so no cylinder full of water. How can there be water standing down there. I know the next step is to pull plugs and check compression but how can water be standing down there??? Maby the intake is stuffed full of mice. Bill
These old bolts are in my blood. Hard thing is focusing on just one.
1937 Chevy 1/2 ton panel 1953 GMC 2 ton. future car hauler
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | How much water? Condensation maybe? Is the oil overfull? The water would not mix with oil if its just sitting. Pull the drain plug in the pan and see what comes out. If it has water in the pan it will come out first, then the oil. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 323 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 323 | I just pulled the carb.The butterfly was stuck closed and crudded up holding a little water.A little rust in the intake.None of it is a good sign.Squirted oil in the cylinders and turned it over by hand zero compression in 3 cylinders so I stopped checking.Maby it's a good core.
Bill
These old bolts are in my blood. Hard thing is focusing on just one.
1937 Chevy 1/2 ton panel 1953 GMC 2 ton. future car hauler
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,189 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,189 | Don't give up yet, pull the valve cover and soak the valve stems with your choice of solvent, it takes very little to hold a valve open and have zero compression. A little condensation rust on iron is not a big concern, large amounts of water is, a few drops, no. If the oil is dry (no water) then chances are the engine can be saved.
Joe | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 985 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 985 | If it were me I too would pull the Valve cover and make sure that all valves are free. I would also add solvent to the cylinders to make sure that the rings are not stuck and causing the 0 compression. I would drain the oil and refill. Then I would pull the distributor and use a drill to prime the oil pump. Making sure that you have oil pressure and supply to the valve train. Then I would reinstall the Distributor and add fuel and see if you can get it to start.
Brian Moore 1949 3100 5 window Deluxe "Today is better than yesterday, but not as good as tomorrow" | | | | | Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 174 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 174 | I agree with Joe and Brian! A little more time and effort. Better to be positive than to just assume. With the valve cover off and "turning it over" you may be able to see which valves are stuck open. Nothing to loose except 30 minutes! | | | | | Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 323 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 323 | Sounds good. Ill drop the oil first and go from there.
These old bolts are in my blood. Hard thing is focusing on just one.
1937 Chevy 1/2 ton panel 1953 GMC 2 ton. future car hauler
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,847 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,847 | Ah don't worry about being confused, the state of confusion is the 51st state. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 134 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 134 | How does one prime the oil pump by pulling the distributor and using a drill?
1953 5 Window 1994 Harley, Heritage Softail Classic 2006 Chevy Colarado I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,901 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,901 | How does one prime the oil pump by pulling the distributor and using a drill? by taking the time to read the tech section or using the search function provided for all these questions are answered in fine detail...
Give me ambiguity or give me something else
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Charlie,
I could not find information in the Tech Tips.
You could try searching on: "oil priming" or "priming engine".
Here is a brief explanation:
After pulling out the distributor (first - mark or note the direction/position of the rotor), look at the bottom of the distributor shaft. The bottom of the shaft is the part that drives the oil pump.
You need to obtain/make a long screw-driver fitting for a drill. With that drill/driver, spin the oil pump until oil comes out the rocker arm shaft (500-1000 RPM should do this).
Then, stick a long screw driver down the distributor shaft and turn the oil pump shaft to the position it was in when you removed the distributor.
Put the distributor back in and, if you did this correctly, the distributor rotor should be in the same direction as before you removed the distributor (this way, your timing will be OK).
If someone finds a good explanation in an older post, feel free to post a link to it.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 134 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 134 | Thanks Tim, that sure is a better answer than the one from Caso. I did check the tech section first before I ask the question.
1953 5 Window 1994 Harley, Heritage Softail Classic 2006 Chevy Colarado I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,901 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,901 | Thanks Tim, that sure is a better answer than the one from Caso. I did check the tech section first before I ask the question. What? not into self help? I find 2 1/2 pages of answers before getting into some other topic on a search of "Oil Prime"... Pick one. 
Give me ambiguity or give me something else
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 134 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 134 | Casco if your reply would have added some tips on what to search for instead of being so Condescending maybe we wouldn't be having this discussion but instead you chouse to take the low road and put people down. Not everybody is as tech savy as you think your are. This site is about helping people, if you have nothing good to say on a post then say nothing at all.
1953 5 Window 1994 Harley, Heritage Softail Classic 2006 Chevy Colarado I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
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