Freeing up a stuck engine - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

gmcbigbl · 09-30-2005, 12:37 AM

I just bought a older vehicle (1972) Chev. pickup and the V-8 engine is froze up (stuck) and won't budge at all. I pulled all the plugs and put Auto Trans fluid in the cylinders and let it sit for a week. Pulled the radiator and I have a socket on the crank pulley with a persuader bar and a pipe trying to turn engine over, but no luck. Anybody got any more ideas how to get engine to turn over? It's an auto trans and don't really want to try to tow it to turn the engine over.

Rooster's 67 · 09-30-2005, 12:40 AM

towing it wont do anything, try marvel mystery oil it has worked for me before. you may have to remove the crank pullys and harmonic balancer off to access the crank snout. they make a special socket that will engage the woodruff key on the crank and then you could safely put rotational force inboth directions to try to break it free

Rooster's 67 · 09-30-2005, 12:45 AM

or crank nut,,, this from jegs
or the socket type like the second pic and the linkcrank socket from jegs

69 Short Fleet · 09-30-2005, 02:47 AM

Pull the plugs and try diesel fuel down each cylinder, let it sit for a couple days and if it still is stuck dump some down the cylinders again and let it sit for a couple more days and try it again. This worked well for me some time ago on a bike engine, just be sure to get rid of the oil after (lol). Doug

OhioDan · 09-30-2005, 04:30 AM

Get yourself one of the crank nuts/sockets as described by Rooster's 67. Pull the plugs and put some Marvel Mystery Oil in each cyl. Work it back and forth with an impact wrench. Ya might break something with the breakerbar. Did the same thing with a 4 cyl. industrial engine. Took a little while. (It won't happen in a second) Once it's free, disassemble and repair as necessary. Hope this helps?

Longhorn Man · 09-30-2005, 05:38 AM

Try brake fluid in the cylinders... seen it free some real nasty engines.
You tried turning it backwards yet?

cdowns · 09-30-2005, 05:43 AM

i've always had good luck with a mixture of marvelmystery oil and wd40// don't use thebolt on the harmonic balencer to try and turn the engine it will snap off leaving you a big problem

Tx Firefighter · 09-30-2005, 07:30 AM

Are you sure the bottom end of the engine is okay? It may have a bad rod or main bearing causing it to seize up.

gmcbigbl · 09-30-2005, 09:49 AM

I am worried about snapping that nut off. I will look for that slotted socket that fits over the slot on the crank, so I can try to turn both ways. Old owner says motor was a sweet running engine before brakes went out and sat for about 4 years Anybody got an address on line where I could find that nut.
Thanks DZ

mplex2000 · 09-30-2005, 09:56 AM

THey said it was at Jegs.

www.jegs.com

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...26&prmenbr=361

cdowns · 09-30-2005, 10:41 AM

just take offthe crank pulley take a piece of scrap metal(min 1/8thick i like 1/4") drill 3 holes for pulley mount 1 hole right in the center for a minimum 1/2 bolt weld the bolt head to the metal put nut on, bolt to harmonic balancer

**VetteVet** · 09-30-2005, 01:37 PM

Are you in China FOR REAL!! Where did you find a 1972 chevy in China?
Anyways I have had some luck turning the flexplate with a flat prybar if it isn't frozen up too solid. You get a lot of leverage way out there. Don't force it too much if it don't move a little at first. Let the cylinders soak like the other guys said.
I still think you're spoofing us about China/

Longhorn Man · 09-30-2005, 02:49 PM

He is messin around on the China bit... I asked him about that on one of his other posts.

*FUNMUDDER* · 09-30-2005, 03:40 PM

I would mix diesel fuel, PB Nutblaster, Deep Creep, and Marvel Mystery oil all in one, and dut it down the cylinder and maybe a little down the intake. We call diesel the magical fluid, as it will clean or free up about anything. Deep Creep and PB Nutblaster really do work. Prices are a little high for them, but good quality for freeing rusted things. WD-40 is ok, but really doesn't free anything rusted up much.....
Maybe you could take the heads off, take a torch, and try heating up the pistons to cook the rust. Thats what we did on a 1950 JD model...........and we also used a 20 ton jack on the pistons

BULIT · 09-30-2005, 05:36 PM

you can pump grease in the cylinders as a last resort , if done correctly it will not harm anything

Guy

09-30-2005, 12:37 AM	#1
gmcbigbl Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 67	Freeing up a stuck engine I just bought a older vehicle (1972) Chev. pickup and the V-8 engine is froze up (stuck) and won't budge at all. I pulled all the plugs and put Auto Trans fluid in the cylinders and let it sit for a week. Pulled the radiator and I have a socket on the crank pulley with a persuader bar and a pipe trying to turn engine over, but no luck. Anybody got any more ideas how to get engine to turn over? It's an auto trans and don't really want to try to tow it to turn the engine over.

09-30-2005, 12:40 AM	#2
Rooster's 67 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: DFW Posts: 765	towing it wont do anything, try marvel mystery oil it has worked for me before. you may have to remove the crank pullys and harmonic balancer off to access the crank snout. they make a special socket that will engage the woodruff key on the crank and then you could safely put rotational force inboth directions to try to break it free __________________ The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?

09-30-2005, 12:45 AM	#3
Rooster's 67 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: DFW Posts: 765	or crank nut,,, this from jegs or the socket type like the second pic and the linkcrank socket from jegs Attached Images __________________ The problem with America is stupidity. I'm not saying there should be a capital punishment for stupidity, but why don't we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself? Last edited by Rooster's 67; 09-30-2005 at 12:47 AM.

09-30-2005, 04:30 AM	#5
OhioDan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: New Carlisle, Ohio,USA Posts: 1,404	Get yourself one of the crank nuts/sockets as described by Rooster's 67. Pull the plugs and put some Marvel Mystery Oil in each cyl. Work it back and forth with an impact wrench. Ya might break something with the breakerbar. Did the same thing with a 4 cyl. industrial engine. Took a little while. (It won't happen in a second) Once it's free, disassemble and repair as necessary. Hope this helps? __________________ LIFE AIN'T EASY WHEN YER FAT AND GREASY! GMC= Got More Class! 1970 GMC LWB, Fleetside, 350/4spd, Flowmaster "40's", 2002 GMC 16" Rallies, cowl hood,and added a bunch of options that weren't there when I started.

09-30-2005, 05:43 AM	#7
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	i've always had good luck with a mixture of marvelmystery oil and wd40// don't use thebolt on the harmonic balencer to try and turn the engine it will snap off leaving you a big problem __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

09-30-2005, 02:47 AM	#4
69 Short Fleet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada Posts: 1,086	Pull the plugs and try diesel fuel down each cylinder, let it sit for a couple days and if it still is stuck dump some down the cylinders again and let it sit for a couple more days and try it again. This worked well for me some time ago on a bike engine, just be sure to get rid of the oil after (lol). Doug

09-30-2005, 05:38 AM	#6
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Try brake fluid in the cylinders... seen it free some real nasty engines. You tried turning it backwards yet?

09-30-2005, 07:30 AM	#8
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Are you sure the bottom end of the engine is okay? It may have a bad rod or main bearing causing it to seize up. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin

09-30-2005, 09:49 AM	#9
gmcbigbl Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 67	I am worried about snapping that nut off. I will look for that slotted socket that fits over the slot on the crank, so I can try to turn both ways. Old owner says motor was a sweet running engine before brakes went out and sat for about 4 years Anybody got an address on line where I could find that nut. Thanks DZ

09-30-2005, 09:56 AM	#10
mplex2000 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: DFW Posts: 463	THey said it was at Jegs. www.jegs.com http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...26&prmenbr=361

09-30-2005, 10:41 AM	#11
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	just take offthe crank pulley take a piece of scrap metal(min 1/8thick i like 1/4") drill 3 holes for pulley mount 1 hole right in the center for a minimum 1/2 bolt weld the bolt head to the metal put nut on, bolt to harmonic balancer __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY Last edited by cdowns; 05-12-2006 at 08:06 AM.

09-30-2005, 01:37 PM	#12
VetteVet Msgt USAF Ret Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 8,718	Are you in China FOR REAL!! Where did you find a 1972 chevy in China? Anyways I have had some luck turning the flexplate with a flat prybar if it isn't frozen up too solid. You get a lot of leverage way out there. Don't force it too much if it don't move a little at first. Let the cylinders soak like the other guys said. I still think you're spoofing us about China/ __________________ VetteVet metallic green 67 stepside 74 corvette convertible 1965 Harley sportster 1995 Harley wide glide Growing old is hell, but it beats the alternative.

09-30-2005, 02:49 PM	#13
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	He is messin around on the China bit... I asked him about that on one of his other posts.

09-30-2005, 03:40 PM	#14
FUNMUDDER Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 427	I would mix diesel fuel, PB Nutblaster, Deep Creep, and Marvel Mystery oil all in one, and dut it down the cylinder and maybe a little down the intake. We call diesel the magical fluid, as it will clean or free up about anything. Deep Creep and PB Nutblaster really do work. Prices are a little high for them, but good quality for freeing rusted things. WD-40 is ok, but really doesn't free anything rusted up much..... Maybe you could take the heads off, take a torch, and try heating up the pistons to cook the rust. Thats what we did on a 1950 JD model...........and we also used a 20 ton jack on the pistons

09-30-2005, 05:36 PM	#15
BULIT Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: chicago illinois Posts: 23	you can pump grease in the cylinders as a last resort , if done correctly it will not harm anything Guy



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