1980 FI Spider - no start & possible seized engine (photos)

[mdrburchette]

I usually dont have that problem with the Metrics'R Us store down the block.

There's actually a store called that? I've got to go to Sears for hard to find metrics and that means going to the MALL which is a four letter dirty word in my book.

[pope]

Denise,
This is Detroit... you can get performance brakes and a Slurpee at a 7-11.
Metrics 'R Us is just a phrase meaning there so many auto and tool stores here that if you went from store to store in a rain storm, you wouldnt get wet.

[mbouse]

the one i like the most, is that in Detroit you can

rent

chrome wheels and low clearance tires !!

[goyal99]

38mm equates to 1 1/2". It may be easier to find.

Good tip!

I found a 1 1/2'" socket and tried to turn the engine manually at the crank with a breaker bar....Not even minimal movement - Nothing at all!! It appears the engine in locked up from sitting idle all these years....

I tried rocking the engine back and forth to loosen it but I could not make it move at all....After several tries I stopped thinking that I might damage something really bad if I forced the issue....I had previously added engine oil down the plug holes a day before but obviously that did not do the trick....I went to the store and bought Mystery Oil like someone here had suggested and Penetrating oil (Liquid Wrench)....I sprayed the Liquid Wrench down the holes and also added Mystery Oil....I will let it sit like that for a few days and I will attempt to turn the engine over sometime next week....Hopefully the combination of penetrating oils will free up the rusty pistons.

No wonder the poor starter was attempting to turn the engine over (the loud clanking I was hearing) but of course with the engine frozen solid like this, the starter had no chance. Hopefully the engine will free up and get another chance to use the starter.

Thanks for your suggestions.

VK
1980 Spider FI 5spd

[pope]

Did you keep the spark plugs out? They should not be in when you try to turn the engine. Wow! that thing must really be frozen.

[rlux4]

Don't give up if mystery oil doesn't get it broke free. I'd still try the ATF as Mark suggested. It's thin enough to work it's way down past the rings. Dump a good amount in, let her soak. Keep a change of oil and filter handy, you'll need it afterwards.
Ron

[goyal99]

Don't give up if mystery oil doesn't get it broke free. I'd still try the ATF as Mark suggested. It's thin enough to work it's way down past the rings. Dump a good amount in, let her soak. Keep a change of oil and filter handy, you'll need it afterwards.
Ron

I will try the ATF if the Mystery oil/Liquid Wrench combo doesn't work in my case....although I must say that I never heard of ATF been used to break parts free (like penetrating oil supposed to do)....I'm not gonna argue with success though - Iat this point I will try whatever suggestion you guys have!

Since I now have a combination of engine oil-penetrating oil-Mystery oil in the cylinders I won't add anything else to the mix.
I'll wait a few days to let it soak and give it another try next week....If by then the engine is still not turning I will add the ATF, like Mark suggested...But I'm hoping to have some good results by then.

Yes, I did take the plugs out when I was trying to break the engine free....But it appears to be frozen solid if a breaker bar can't break it free. Oh well, the joys of working on a Project car.

VK

[mbouse]

fortunately, replacement engines are lots easier to find that rust free bodies. s'long as you have a means of picking one up, you should have no trouble swapping out another RUNNING engine for the boat anchor you seem to have now.

ATF...prolly shoulda used that from the get go. works WONDERS; but if you haven't freed it fairly quickly ... hope fades quickly for a full recovery.

[pope]

My favorite is PB Blaster for unsticking rusted parts

[goyal99]

While I'm waiting for the penetrating oil to do its thing, I read online that putting the car in top gear (4th or 5th) and pushing the car gently forward for a few days can get the engine to free up!

Has anyone tried this method for freeing a seized engine??

VK

[rlux4]

Basically that would be doing the same thing as turning the crank by hand. Force would be tansferred to the crank sort of backwards. Rear wheels, differential, drive shaft, tranny,engine. Rocking the car would try to turn the crank shaft, just from the back of the engine, not the front.
Ron

[78spyderturbo]

measure the voltage at the large terminal on the starter. You need at least 9.6v there.

Which large terminal at the starter?? Do you mean the left terminal on the solenoid which is connected to the starter?? I took a measurement on that terminal and it's 6.8V, when the ignition is on START engine....It sounds to me that I'm not getting enough voltage to the starter since I need at least 9.6V there....The right side solenoid terminal is getting 12.7V all the time...That's the one with the 3 wires connected to it....Do I need to replace the battery with a newer one and where is the voltage drop ??

Since you haven't turned the engine yet, remove the spark plugs and pour auto trans fluid in each hole and let it sit a couple of days, Then try to turn the engine back and forth to break it loose.

Okay, I did put some engine oil down the plug holes today (didn't have any trany fluid handy) and I'll wait until I get that 38mm socket to turn the crank manually...I won't play around with the starter anymore until I can turn the engine manually and see what happens....If the starter is still good I don't want to damage it by forcing the starter to turn a 'frozen' engine over. I'd rather get it unstuck manually.

Lets see some pics of the car, the engine might be worth rebuilding.

I don't have any good photos of this Spider but it's nothing to write home about...The body has rust and it needs a repaint badly...But the top is still good and the interior is better than average!! It's a project car at best but if the engine is toast then it's a good parts car. I'll find out shortly...




I will post more photos tomorrow when I get a chance to work on it again.

VK

Does the car roll if so put it in first gear and see if the engine turns over by rocking it back and forth good luck.

[goyal99]

Does the car roll if so put it in first gear and see if the engine turns over by rocking it back and forth good luck.

Ohhh,

Is that 1st gear or top gear?? or it doesn't really make a difference??

Yes, I rolled the car off the tow dolly to my back yard, so it does roll and the brakes are not seized....So your suggestion is to rock the car back and forth in 1st gear and see if that breaks the engine free, right??

Thanks for your suggestion - VK

[rlux4]

!st gear would give you more solid tansfer of motion than 4th or 5th. Just be gentle, it could end up putting a lot of force on your stuck rings.
Ron

[goyal99]

!st gear would give you more solid tansfer of motion than 4th or 5th. Just be gentle, it could end up putting a lot of force on your stuck rings.
Ron

Okay, thanks for the explanation Ron....I will try in top gear first just to be on the gentle side of things!
Although I've already put all my muscle strength behind my 32" breaker bar at the crank a few times already and nothing moved... Maybe the rocking motion with the car in gear will provide a stronger mechanical force.

VK