Having Trouble Turning The Crank

[maytag]

by the way: where in the world are you located?

[lgonzo]

I looked for the little piece that came of of the piston and It wasn't in the oil pan so I assume that the previous owner took it out when he took off the head, and there is no damage to the cylinder heads or cylinder walls and everything else seem to be good I was thing of buying all new gaskets and just put the head and everything else back on, right know I only have 700 to spend, I just want the get it running for now so I can drive a fiat for the first time, later on I will do a full rebuild

[lgonzo]

by the way: where in the world are you located?

I am in washington

[maytag]

... I was thing of buying all new gaskets and just put the head and everything else back on, right know I only have 700 to spend, I just want the get it running for now so I can drive a fiat for the first time, later on I will do a full rebuild

good plan. this all hinges on being sure that nicj in the piston isn't interfering with the rings / lands, and that it isn;t the top of a crack in the piston.
Then I;d suggest do a couple of things that cost very little. It sounds like you've already pulled the pan, and cleaned it really good? Do the same with the oil pump & pickup. I'd still recommend you pop those bearing caps. clean 'em. look for scoring and burning. if they seem fine, use some Lucas assembly lube and button 'er back up. New gaskets all around, as you said. Majic and I will disagree on this, but I would drizzle some marvel mystery oil on the cylinder walls, maybe puddle just a little in the valve reliefs to aid in lubricating the first couple of strokes. Those rings and cylinder walls are going to protest being put back into service after being exposed for that long.

clean, clean , clean clean. make it clean. I mean inside. don;t care what it looks like on the outside.

[So Cal Mark]

expecting that engine to run well, or even decently, by slapping it together is just a waste of your money. You'd be better off to use some of that $700 to buy a decent running engine from someone.

[maytag]

You'd be better off to use some of that $700 to buy a decent running engine from someone.

this is an even better plan.....
except that I certainly have never seen a "decent running engine" that could be purchased for "some of that $700".

Especially in our neck of the woods up here! (we can't all live in California, Mark )

I've certainly made worse than that run before. And driven for some time. with a budget of $700, what's a guy gonna do?

[So Cal Mark]

there is a saying about "throwing good money after bad" that relates to doing something halfway. Deciding the rings are good based on the pistons not moving in the cylinder is a giant leap of faith. The pistons should move some, otherwise it indicates the rings are rusted/seized. I just hate to see someone waste their budget just trying to make it run. The scrap yards are full of cars that had some money thrown at them in a hap hazard attempt to make it run

[lgonzo]

i might just buy new piston rings and bearings and replace the internals and the put it back together and still use the same pistons

[maytag]

i might just buy new piston rings and bearings and replace the internals and the put it back together and still use the same pistons

If you're going to that effort, replace the pistons as well. a stock piston set can be found cheaply enough. I've thrown 3 or 4 sets into the recycle bin over the last 3 years.

I'm gonna butt out. Mostly 'cuz Mark is right, about throwing good money after bad. but Keith (Majic) is also right that it's always nicer to see it back on the road.
ultimately, you will need to decide how in-depth you can take it and still cross the finish line, getting it back on the road. Sometimes it;s about money, sometimes it;s about time, usually it;s about both.

Yes, I've made worse cases than your run and drive.... when I needed to. "Necessity is the mother of ingenuity." Ask me someday about my 3-cylinder datsun pickup.
But if you can afford (time & money) to do it better than "make-do-with-what-ya-got", then do so.

[majicwrench]

Where at in Washington?? I've got family and a rental in Kennewick and am there all the time.

What you have is obviously seriously rough. If you have the skills and experience, you could assess what you have and do the very least to get er going. I could tell you about an old rusted 350 Pontiac motor.....but I'm a professional mechanic. This could be a huge learning experience, and a good one, but don't expect it to go quick. At the very least you need to pull those pistons and see what is in there. To do that you need a ridge reamer. Ring groove cleaner. You will need rings, bearings, gasket set, timing belt etc etc etc etc etc just to get it running. Whats the head look like?? The carb??
A replacement motor, together, running, would be a wonderful option, a bunch of Fiat guys around.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with but a single step............
Keith

[lgonzo]

the cheapest set of pistons i can find are 300 at international-auto.com

[chrisfiat]

the cheapest set of pistons i can find are 300 at international-auto.com

buy a set from someone here

[maytag]

the cheapest set of pistons i can find are 300 at international-auto.com

here's one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FIAT-124-SPIDER ... 4&vxp=mtr
and here's a set of 4:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fiat-124-2000-E ... 58&vxp=mtr

[majicwrench]

Why assume you need pistons?? Heck for 300 you might be able to find a motor.

[lgonzo]

i took out of the pistons and they seem to be fine, im going ot replace the rings and all the bearings on the inside