Seized 327 Engine

DeppvomDienst · October 26, 2009

Hi:

Sorry if this is a bit off-topic but I figure it would apply to old GM trucks too since the engines are pretty much the same.

I was wondering if anybody has a pearl or two of wisdom with regard to the best way to un-seize an engine. In this case, it is the original 327 in a '69 Impala. It has just been sitting for years, so it froze up on its own. This is to say, it was running when I parked it and it is not because I ran it without oil or something similar.

What I do know to do I have already done: I dumped mystery oil down the cylinders today and will wait a couple of days to try turn the crankshaft pulley by hand.

I was thinking that removing the three bolts attaching the crankshaft pulley to the harmonic balancer would provide anchor points for a puller (which I don't have) so that I could use the leverage provided by the puller to try to hand-turn the crankshaft.

Beyond that, does anybody have advice or experience un-seizing a Chevy small block?

Thanks,

Vinny

ZZ327 · October 26, 2009

Ive heard of using transmission fluid in through the open spark plug holes. Let it sit for a day or so. And get a long breaker bar, Crankshaft socket and try to crank it by hand.

Or use this guys idea. Let the cars weight turn it!

04-13-2002, 06:29 PM

Pedal2metal

Freshman User Join Date: Mar 2002

Location: Ranger

Posts: 30

Help on how to unsieze an engine

This may sound a little crude but... I took a large breaker bar once and put a crankshaft socket on it set my ratchet to "Tighten" pulled out the spark plugs and jacked the car up about 8" by putting the jack under the breaker bar. I couldn't believe that thing moved the next day...and it STARTED! If this doesn't work for you, perhaps more beer is needed in order to get mad enough to try something stupid like I did!

Zembonez · October 26, 2009

I think you are on the right track. The rings are just stuck to the cylinder walls most likely from sitting in one place forever. I'm sure there is surface rust on the cylinder walls complicating the problem. Once it finally moves at all, it should be rather easy to get it to turn over. Once it does, turn it over for a few revolutions using the starter and make sure it is totally freed up before actually attempting to start it.

doverarjim · October 27, 2009

If you get it unstuck and go to the trouble of getting it running, the next problem you might have is a smoking issue. Sometimes the rings stick especially the oil ring and it will have a lot of blow by, but there is a cheap and easy way to fix that also, if it is smoking pick up some BonAmie at the store it is a cleaning product like Ajax and it will be with the cleaning supplies. Get a can and get the car running and hold it to a fast idle and then pour a little bit of the BonAmie in to the carb, make sure it keeps running and you want to put a total of about 1/2 to 3/4th of a cup into the carb total. Make sure and keep it running for 10 minutes or so, it will smoke at first maybe worse that before you start but by the time you get done the rings will be sealing just like new. And yes I have done this on more than one engine over the years, a Ford 4 cylinder and a Chev 6 cylinder and 2 small blocks. Good luck.

Zembonez · October 27, 2009

If you get it unstuck and go to the trouble of getting it running, the next problem you might have is a smoking issue. Sometimes the rings stick especially the oil ring and it will have a lot of blow by, but there is a cheap and easy way to fix that also, if it is smoking pick up some BonAmie at the store it is a cleaning product like Ajax and it will be with the cleaning supplies. Get a can and get the car running and hold it to a fast idle and then pour a little bit of the BonAmie in to the carb, make sure it keeps running and you want to put a total of about 1/2 to 3/4th of a cup into the carb total. Make sure and keep it running for 10 minutes or so, it will smoke at first maybe worse that before you start but by the time you get done the rings will be sealing just like new. And yes I have done this on more than one engine over the years, a Ford 4 cylinder and a Chev 6 cylinder and 2 small blocks. Good luck.

That sounds like a Highway 7 trick to me! Makes sense that it might clean the bore but surely it adds to the wear?

grampadirt · October 27, 2009

I've used Bon Ami to clean glass and other delicate surfaces when I was in the custom glass business.I can see it cleaning without the abrasiveness of Ajax...

doverarjim · October 28, 2009

Clown that trick is really from Texass!!! My brother taught it to me years ago, it is one of those trick to put in the ole gray matter to pull out and amaze people when it works like you say it will. I at one time kept a can in my tool box, you never know when you can pick up a $50.00 car and with one can make it into a $1500.00 car.(Can and has happened)

DeppvomDienst · October 28, 2009

Hi all:

My thanks to all of you for taking time to respond. I put the mystery oil in late yesterday (Monday) and am going to try to turn it on Thursday. I will keep you posted on how it goes and what methods I use. Unfortunately, the car is only held together by the body rot due to all those New England Winters.

The sentimental attachment here is that I was with my Dad when he bought it brand-new in the Fall of 1969. Dad is 86 and still with us, but is extremely ill. I would at least like to get his old car started. It would give him a chuckle.

Thanks again,

Your Cousin Vinny

Mike G · November 3, 2009

If you do get it spinning by hand, pull the coil wire so that you can build internal oil pressure while just cranking. You may also want to pull the valve covers and apply some fresh lube to the top end as well. Have you already put fresh oil in the pan and filter? I would also shoot some fogging oil in the open spark plug holes.

--Mike