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| | | | Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 54 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 54 | I just pulled a 39 out of my father in law's garage. It was my wife's grandfather's vehicle. It has 63 license tags on it which was the last time it was on the road. Problem is the engine is seized up on it. Any suggestions on getting it loose?
Thanks,
regmudd | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,971 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,971 | Kroil in the cylinders. Let it sit for a few days. It might be a good idea to pull the head to take a better look. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,596 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,596 | When I bought my 50' with original 216 I started down this road before finding out block had cracked some winter. It had also been stored since the 60's. So I would look it over really well. In the process of pulling it apart to salvage parts I found the stuck cylinder (just one) was right near the center. The advice on pulling the head would have saved me some aggravation. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,214 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,214 | Hope for the best, expect the worst.
My 49 216 sat since 69 and was also locked up. Pulled the plugs and squirted quite a bit of PB Blaster into each cyl and let it work for a week and this did the trick. I could never get it running and ended up pulling the head and having it rebuilt. Along w/rebuilding the carb and replacing points/plugs,condensor, coil,fuel pump I got it running as it is to this day. I was lucky in that it had anti-freeze in it.
If you have patience and want to try to get it running as is, try to soak the cyl's to try to get it freed up. If not, pull the head and go from there.
Good luck
Dave
Dave | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,270 Renaissance Man | | Renaissance Man Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 10,270 | I had a 53 235 that was tight. I was able to soak it and free it up. It started as soon as the carb got some gas. Only problem was that the thing smoked horribly and would not quit smoking. Pulled the head and the piston from the oily cylinder and found broken rings. I decided to go all or nothing and completely rebuild it. The good thing about approaching it this way, I new that I had a good starter, carburetor, coil, points, and electrical system. This is good to know when it comes time to start the new rebuild and break in the cam at 2,000 rpm for 20 minutes. Hard to do that when you are trying to troubleshoot everything else that makes an engine run.
Carl
Last edited by 52Carl; 01/12/2014 12:09 AM.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,744 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,744 | Any suggestions on getting it loose? Go to KANO laboratories on Thompson Lane in Nashville and buy a quart of KROIL. Squirt a couple of ounces into each cylinder through the spark plug holes and let the engine sit for about a week. Then remove the starter and use the chisel-shaped end of a wrecking bar to pry on the flywheel teeth. Don't overdo it- - - -breaking teeth off the flywheel isn't the desired result, we just want to make the crankshaft turn. If things get stiff, roll the engine back the other way and keep rocking it back and forth until you get a full turn. It might be a good idea to pull the valve cover and soak the valve stems at the same time you oil the cylinders. Good luck! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,544 | You may want to get a borescope and go in thru the spark plug hole to check things out in each cylinder. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 276 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 276 | All good advice, but do not forget the valve train. I got my 39 to move after days of soaking and then addressed the stuck valves. I washed the vale train down and then used lots of oil and a bit of tapping. still a bit paranoid about things getting oiled, I way overfilled the crankcase with cheap oil and manually turned the engine over many times (by hand and/or with started) Figure the bottom end was now well lubed. Drained the excess oil, cranked and looked for oil pressure, and then tried starting. Darned thing ran and ran well. Some days you get lucky. BTW, my 39 had a 1954 license plate on it. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | With my 51, it had sat for around 17 years outside. It took me a week to get it to turn. Once I got it started I could tell there were no bearing noises but there was some smoke. I wanted to work on it in place and if the bearings were knocking, that option would have been a non starter. Everything turned out well.
My 38 sat in a garage for 30 years. It turned over fine with the fan belt and had good looking oil in it. I pulled the wires off the plugs to take them out and the wires stood on their own in place! I was able to get it running and it sounded good with no knocks. It also didn't smoke. I will however take it out and tear it down eventually. | | |
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