Is my engine frozen?
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Is my engine frozen?
I am original owner of a '77 that I let sit (indoors) for about 10 years while pursuing a career in medicine. As a winter project, I hope to get it road-worthy. I have not tried to start this car yet.So far, I siphoned out the old gas, pulled the plugs, squirted some oil in the cylinders. I tried to hand crank by turning 5/8 ratchet at fly-wheel per a friends suggestion, but it doesn't budge(belts have been loosened). The car can roll freely in neutral(which is how it sat) but does not want to slide into any gear with or without clutch depressed. I don't know if this is a separate problem or related to the above. I am afraid to crank engine at this time. Anybody have any ideas or suggestions? I am new to this forum and obviously not a seasoned mechanic, but love to tinker. Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 7
From: Ontario
I would not want to use the starter yet.
Are you using a short standard length ratchet with that 5/8" socket? Put a longer breaker bar on that socket after letting it sit with more oil in the cylinders as suggested above.
I expect than even after you break it free and get it running you will be rebuilding it shortly down the road. There will be issues down the road. Letting these sit is not good. Might as well skip what you are trying todo now and go right to a tear-down... freshen up with rings and bearings. That is what I would do.
Too bad that oil was not sprayed in over the years. Very cool that you are the original owner and kept it, bring her back to life.
Are you using a short standard length ratchet with that 5/8" socket? Put a longer breaker bar on that socket after letting it sit with more oil in the cylinders as suggested above.
I expect than even after you break it free and get it running you will be rebuilding it shortly down the road. There will be issues down the road. Letting these sit is not good. Might as well skip what you are trying todo now and go right to a tear-down... freshen up with rings and bearings. That is what I would do.
Too bad that oil was not sprayed in over the years. Very cool that you are the original owner and kept it, bring her back to life.
Last edited by Retro78; Dec 16, 2007 at 07:19 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,795
Likes: 1
I would not want to use the starter yet.
Are you using a short standard length ratchet with that 5/8" socket? Put a longer breaker bar on that socket after letting it sit with more oil in the cylinders as suggested above.
I expect than even after you break it free and get it running you will be rebuilding it shortly down the road. There will be issues down the road. Letting these sit is not good. Might as well skip what you are trying todo now and go right to a tear-down... freshen up with rings and bearings. That is what I would do.
Too bad that oil was not sprayed in over the years. Very cool that you are the original owner and kept it, bring her back to life.
Are you using a short standard length ratchet with that 5/8" socket? Put a longer breaker bar on that socket after letting it sit with more oil in the cylinders as suggested above.
I expect than even after you break it free and get it running you will be rebuilding it shortly down the road. There will be issues down the road. Letting these sit is not good. Might as well skip what you are trying todo now and go right to a tear-down... freshen up with rings and bearings. That is what I would do.
Too bad that oil was not sprayed in over the years. Very cool that you are the original owner and kept it, bring her back to life.
do not bump it over or you risk breaking a ring.an old mechanic friend of mine ( may he RIP ) always used a mix of
2 cycle oil and gasoline.
he put one of the small cans of oil to a whole gallon of gas
would dump a cup full in each cylinder of the mixture and put the plugs back in,
let it set for a week, pull all of the plugs back out and then grab his 24" breaker bar and crank socket and crank the engine backwards.
always worked when i seen him do it that way.
since you mention that is a 4 speed could also be a rusted and stuck clutch plate.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
If it is a frozen clutch plate, would that explain why I can't slide the shifter into any of the gears or is this a separate problem? If clutch plate is frozen, should car be able to roll in neutral? Meantime, I will place more lube into cylinders and let sit.
do not bump it over or you risk breaking a ring.
an old mechanic friend of mine ( may he RIP ) always used a mix of
2 cycle oil and gasoline.
he put one of the small cans of oil to a whole gallon of gas
would dump a cup full in each cylinder of the mixture and put the plugs back in,
let it set for a week, pull all of the plugs back out and then grab his 24" breaker bar and crank socket and crank the engine backwards.
always worked when i seen him do it that way.
since you mention that is a 4 speed could also be a rusted and stuck clutch plate.
do not bump it over or you risk breaking a ring.an old mechanic friend of mine ( may he RIP ) always used a mix of
2 cycle oil and gasoline.
he put one of the small cans of oil to a whole gallon of gas
would dump a cup full in each cylinder of the mixture and put the plugs back in,
let it set for a week, pull all of the plugs back out and then grab his 24" breaker bar and crank socket and crank the engine backwards.
always worked when i seen him do it that way.
since you mention that is a 4 speed could also be a rusted and stuck clutch plate.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: texas
had a similar issue earlier this year. The guy above suggesting not using the starter is very correct. not only will it contaminate the system but cause alot wear on the flywheel ring gear and possibly ruin it. i came home every night from work for about 2 weeks and turned the crank nut by hand with a ratchet and the handle of my jack for an extension, all the while putting penetrating oil in each cylinder through the spark plug socket. after a time, i could feel it free up. then used the starter. once it fires up, change the oil pretty quick. but the lesson i learned was that i used the starter from the get go and toasted the ring gear. btw- my mechanic told me all the while this was going on that he uses atf fluid for this purpose??
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Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
You might also try priming the oil pump and getting some oil circulated through the bearings before the next try. Then when you do try, give it a sharp tug or push in the direction of rotation.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 388
Likes: 3
From: Guyton, (Savannah) Georgia
Another Suggestion
I agree with pulling the distributor and pumping the oil with a drill for a while. Just make sure that you mark the distributor at the intake manifold and where the rotor is on the distributor. I also agree with using P. B. Blaster in the cylinders for a few days also. Something you may try is to do is jack up the car, (using jack stands of course) get under it and carefully use a stout common screwdriver on the flywheel against the bellhousing and spin the engine that way. I have had some trouble with stipping the threads on the crank. It's not fun. Good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
Likes: 12
From: Carbondale Pa.
Do they still sell "Marvel Mystery Oil",? thats what I used to use to free up stuck pistons/rings/cylinders. squirt some in the cylinders and let it soak as in all the other advice you've been getting, Good Luck. Peace,,,Moosie 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,477
Likes: 1,495
From: Little Rock AR
I would use a few squirt cans of PB Blaster through the spark plug holes over the course of a few days. Then prime the oiling system. If you can turn it over a few times with the plugs out using a breaker bar aftert that, you are probably good to go. 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,377
Likes: 6,377
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
There's no reason at all that an engine sitting indoors for 10 years will "freeze." Unless the engine was filled with water or sitting outside with rain getting into the intake, the rings won't freeze to the cylinder walls. Put it in neutral, pull all the plugs out, and turn it over with a breaker bar on the crank. Then put some fresh oil and gas in it and fire it up - no reason it shouldn't start and run. Watch for leaks...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
There's no reason at all that an engine sitting indoors for 10 years will "freeze." Unless the engine was filled with water or sitting outside with rain getting into the intake, the rings won't freeze to the cylinder walls. Put it in neutral, pull all the plugs out, and turn it over with a breaker bar on the crank. Then put some fresh oil and gas in it and fire it up - no reason it shouldn't start and run. Watch for leaks...
Get under it and turn the flywheel with a big screwdriver.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
After 10 years, you need to drain any gasoline [and water] from the gas tank; replace the rubber portion of the gas line; drain and replace the oil and filter; remove plugs and squirt PB Blaster in liberally; take carb off and clean it out; put in new fuel filter; new air filter; clean or replace plugs. It would be best to change out the radiator hoses and pulley belts...but you make that call--they can only break. Squirt a bit of gas into the carb and {if you've charged up the battery} give it a start. If it makes no effort to turn over, STOP!! Trying to make it start when there is excessive drag on the system will only burn out your starter. If it's in a bind, find the problem and fix it. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a first-time start!
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
After 10 years, you need to drain any gasoline [and water] from the gas tank; replace the rubber portion of the gas line; drain and replace the oil and filter; remove plugs and squirt PB Blaster in liberally; take carb off and clean it out; put in new fuel filter; new air filter; clean or replace plugs. It would be best to change out the radiator hoses and pulley belts...but you make that call--they can only break. Squirt a bit of gas into the carb and {if you've charged up the battery} give it a start. If it makes no effort to turn over, STOP!! Trying to make it start when there is excessive drag on the system will only burn out your starter. If it's in a bind, find the problem and fix it. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a first-time start!