Should I or should I not even bother...

[Patsfan34]

to try to get this 292 running. This thing has sat out in the elments for 2 and half years just the way it appears in the pics. I tried to get the engine to spin but to no avail. So I cleaned around all the plugs and vacuumed all the sand and rust and then pulled all the plugs and squirted about 3 oz's of mistery oil in each cylinder to see if the rings would break free. I'm gonna let it soak until next saturday and try to spin the motor again. If the motor spins I was thinking of trying to get it started and see how it runs. Now obviously this engine is going to a machine shop and being totally rebuilt but am I stupid for trying to get it running just to see how it is? If I can get the rings free and I do get it started am I just taking a big risk on cracking the block and destroying this engine?

[Rack Man]

No way would I try and start it....as you do not know the condition of it to begin with....you could cause catastophic damage!

Dan

[MonteSS454]

Rebuild it first, then no regrets later.

[ChevLoRay]

Aw shucks.....it was running when you parked it, right? Musta run out of gas.....


I agree with the others to just wait until it's built to run it, although I understand the desire to know if it will/will not run.

[cdowns]

first thing is dont try "spinning" with the starter thats about the easiest foolproof way to snap those rings into litlle sharp metal cutting pieces

plugs out try gently to move it back and firth both directions manually
then if you can get it to freely rotate i'd give it a shot at starting it up

[70rs/ss]

If not started, freed up as disassembling a locked motor isn't possible that I know of, how do you push the piston out of the bore if it is locked up?? So yeah the oil thing, I used WD-40 to free the rings as it also cleans the gunk out of them too. I don't know that I waste the time starting it thought is may have seized do to a rod or main bearing failure, etc, just get it broke loose and diassmble it, and you should start praying now that the water that got into the cylinders didn't eat through the cylinder walls, as it could be junk, as in unable to be cleaned up if there is enough rust in the walls??

[tex_waco_usmc]

Ok so I am going to prove how country I truly am. A long time ago my grandfather and I bought an old gasoline ford tractor that had been sat up for what looked like ages.

We got her to unlock by pouring antifreeze into the spark plug holes and letting her sit for about 2 to 3 days. After a little back and forth actioin we got her to spin freely. Then we preceded to tear her down and rebuild her. She still runs on my grandfathers farm today.

However, I am with everyone else. Try to get it to break free and then tear it apart and rebuild. No sense in destroying a block just to do it. Also, remember the old saying: "Curiosity killed the cat!" well in this case, Curiosity could kill the block!!!!

[don t. - 72gmc]

If the mystery oil does not free it up, try some ATF.

HTH.....don t. .....

[thirdstreettito]

If it ran before it was started I would try to start it.

[Tx Firefighter]

I use diesel in the bores. Come back every week and try to turn it back and forth gently by hand. Never use the starter. My passion is antique engines, and this is standard procedure for that cult. It works.

[phipp13]

i Agree with all the above. try to unlock it and to the machine shop it should go. you may save a good chunk of change unlocking it yourself, shops charge big $$ per hour for working on your stuff. good luck Phipp13

[Patsfan34]

Thanks again everyone! I will get the rings free but there will be no firing of this engine until it's back to perfect condition.