How do you free up a motor that has been sitting for 2+ years

[slasky]

We got most of the wiring done on our school rampage project done. We wanted to turn it over to see if it was right. The starter just clicked and would not turn the motor over. We boosted it and it still won't budge. We also tried putting a ratchet on the crank and it won't budge. We even backed the starter out just in case it was binding. Since it has an auto trans in it it must have been able to rotate when the TC was attached to the flex plate. So I just think it is just a little surface rust stopping it. I have been spraying WD40 and oil down the cylinders but it has not worked yet. Any other suggestions? I did not see any rust inside the cylinders when I pulled the plugs.

[powermaxx]

Try auto tranny fluid (not too much!) and let it set overnight to work in.

Has worked for me in the past.

[JamesL]

+1 to auto trans fluid soaking. Dry the WD out with air first though.

[1FastCSX289]

I just dont get how it got locked up.......the cylinder walls were coated. Can oil dry up off the walls so much that the rings get rusted after 2-3 yrs of sitting?

[shelbydave]

I had one sit since May '86. Put it in 2 weeks ago, and fired it right up.

[Frank]

Push it down a hill and pop the clutch. The inertia should free it up.

[turbo84voyager]

Marvels mystery oil in the cylinders. But when it does free up, you have to be careful so you dont hurt the rings.

[slasky]

Push it down a hill and pop the clutch. The inertia should free it up.

Kind of hard to do with an automatic.

[Aries_Turbo]

doubt its the cylinders.

i bet its something misaligned with the tranny to engine interface.

happened a few times with me.

Brian

[slasky]

doubt its the cylinders.

i bet its something misaligned with the tranny to engine interface.

happened a few times with me.

Brian

It's an automatic. The engine had to turn at some point to hook up the TC bolts.

[rbryant]

Push it down a hill and pop the clutch. The inertia should free it up.

Sadly I have done that on the farm with an old tractor... Actually we were tow starting it and the tires were sliding until it freed up. Probably not so good for the rods.

-Rich

[Frank]

It was mostly a joke. Plus it is a rampage, so it would just hop and skip a lot.

[Aries_Turbo]

It's an automatic. The engine had to turn at some point to hook up the TC bolts.

yeah i suppose.... i guess the trans fluid trick.

heres the other thing.... pull the head and check it out and put that head on seans car so it will go fast again.

[Vigo]

Push it down a hill and pop the clutch. The inertia should free it up.

Ive tried that on two td's and it hasnt worked yet...

I HAVE however, broken a motor loose when it was on the ground by putting a screwdriver through the dowel hole in the bellhousing and then using a prybar on the ring gear teeth to work it back and forth and free it up. After a lot of that it would crank. BUT, even though it ran, it had a lot of blowby.

[Aries_Turbo]

maybe you outta separate the trans just in case.... at least loosen the bolts a bit and back it off 1/2" or something.

Brian

[GLHNSLHT2]

Can't seperate the trans if you can't rotate the engine to get the TC bolts out. +1 on filling the cylinders with MMO and letting it sit.

[Aries_Turbo]

not take it the whole way off. just loosen it up a little to see if the binding is in there.

ive taken the trans off by sliding it off the TC anyway without issue. just keep it level.

Brian

[4 l-bodies]

Need more info on this vehicle. Did you guys have the motor apart? It all depends on how the vehicle was stored, whether it will turn over initially or not.

+1 on ATF or Marvel Mystery oil. This past year I got a friends 62 Falcon with 289, his 70 351 Mach 1, and 71 Pontiac Lemans 350 all started after sitting between 20-25 years. I used MMO. Had to replace lots of other stuff, but that's another story.

Pull the plugs, pour in plenty of oil, let it work for a couple/few days. Use the crank bolt to get it free. When it frees up and turns over good, have your best friend standing in front of the motor, then hit starter and let the oil fly! Your buddy needed a bath anyway. Spin motor over without plugs until you get oil pressure on gauge. Replace plugs and whatever else has gone bad from sitting.

Todd

[slasky]

Need more info on this vehicle. Did you guys have the motor apart? It all depends on how the vehicle was stored, whether it will turn over initially or not.

The motor is a new rebuild and it was stored indoors. I will try the MMO or trans fluid on Monday and let it sit for a few days.

[JamesL]

The motor is a new rebuild and it was stored indoors. I will try the MMO or trans fluid on Monday and let it sit for a few days.

I've got the same problem with the motor we put in Cindy's GLHS Charger last year. Its always been inside but the humidity here is bad. Some how enough moisture got in and rusted the rings to the cylinder wall in number two. Since it wasn't a completely built car, we pulled the head to find out why it wouldn't turn. So if you going to build a motor and let it sit, turn it every so often and maybe stuff some paper towles in the ports to absorb moisture. My Boss 302 motor has been sitting for about four years now after a fresh rebuild. I'm scared to even look at it right now.