Locked up 440

[JonS]

I got a cheap 440 some time ago that I'm trying to free up so I can get it down to the machine shop.

It had oil in it that I drained.  It wouldn't turn over by hand (obviously) or with a long breaker bar on the crank.  I pulled the heads, loosened the mains, and tried again.  Still nothing.  I soaked everything I could reach (from the top and bottom) in PB Blaster for a few days.  Tried again... nothing.  I disconnected all the connecting rods I could reach from the crank and had someone lean on the breaker bar while I hit all the pistons with a block and a hammer.  Nothing.

I'm scratching my head on this one big time.  I don't know what to do because half the pistons are disconnected from the crank and I STILL can't break it loose!  I have a lot of car buddies and they're pretty impressed with how stuck this motor is...

Any ideas on anything else I could try?

Jon

[Cuda Cody]

Remove the rest of the pistons.  If it locked up due to oil starvation it might have welded itself together.  Remove EVERYTHING you can and try again.

I don't know what to do because half the pistons are disconnected from the crank

Jon

[JonS]

Cody,

That's the trick... I can't reach the connecting rods on about 4 of the pistons to disconnect them from the crank. 

Jon

[the_engineers]

Break out a chisel and destroy the four remaining pistons, or commit to buying new rods (prob not a terrible idea anyway) and cut them off at the beam.

Is the bottom end discolored, i.e. did the motor get extremely hot?  May be why the thing was cheap.

[brads70]

Don't force it....use a bigger hammer!    What parts are you hoping to save? Crank, and block? I agree cut the rods if it won't budge?
In the words of Clint Eastwood....." nothing like a good piece of Hickory"
( to hammer on the pistons so you don't screw up the block?)

[JonS]

From what I'm reading... the only option that has been proposed that may work for me is physically destroying the piston.  There are 1 or 2 of the conn rods at the back of the motor that I don't think I can reach even if I wanted to.  I didn't know if someone had some jedi trick for freeing up a locked motor that I hadn't thought of... 

Of course you guys recommend smashing stuff...   I shouldn't have expected anything else!

Jon

[Cooter]

Well, if the engine is locked up that damn tight, just bust the pistons with a hammer and a chizel and remove the crank and rods...You are gonna have to bore it anyway..I once hadda 440 that was locked up so tight, we hot tanked it COMPLETE THREE times and nothing...Finally ended up busting the pistons out of it...BE CAREFUL though, as it's WAY easy to go right through a cylinder doing this on a stuck motor...

[Topcat]

If you're trying to salvage the engine with minimal risk to the cylinders or other components, Grain store Molasses diluted might be an alternative to free up the stuck pistons and crank. No guarantee it will work but theres none when you're dealing with rusted old engines is there?

I know for a fact it did work before from a post I put on here a few years ago. The Guy soaked the frozen block in a big vat covered up for over a week. Afterwards, the engine freed up and he was able to take it apart. The weblink isn't working anymore I posted of the engine he did.

[Cuda Cody]

Stop...... Hammer time. 

[CHL2T]

 

[mopar12372]

soak with diesel fuel. get a peace of wood that fits on the piston hit with a big hammer . the trick is to let it soak.

[73EStroker]

soak with diesel fuel. get a peace of wood that fits on the piston hit with a big hammer . the trick is to let it soak.

I agree - also when hammering on the wood get a friend to try rotating the crank while you are beating on it. Of course make sure you are both working together not trying to fight each other in this effort.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

soak with diesel fuel. get a peace of wood that fits on the piston hit with a big hammer . the trick is to let it soak.

I have used this method with SOME success in the past. But there are no garantees. When that dont work a big hammer and chisel is best. Try to break the center first and work your way out. Needless to say try not to hit the walls....

[Topcat]

I have used this method with SOME success in the past. But there are no garantees. When that dont work a big hammer and chisel is best. Try to break the center first and work your way out. Needless to say try not to hit the walls....

I've heard that works also.
An idea... a clay resivior on the block edges if heads are off to contain it because some pistons are on TDC that need a better soak.

[sstocker31]

Don't waste your time with a "big" hammer.....use a 4x4 hardwood block and a sledge hammer!!
I watched a guy free up a stuck tractor engine this way, after soaking in diesel fuel for about a week. After about 10 or 15 good blasts with the sledge she popped free.
Just make sure you protect the block with some other pieces of wood.....in case of a slip or miss