I just bought a non-running 86 Firebird, and I cant turn the engine over by hand by the crankshaft nut. The starter also doesn't seem to budge it, just making a loud clunk.

Is my engine totally locked up? I know it hasn't been started in at least 5 years, but it has oil in it, and was never disassembled, so I'm not sure why it would be locked up.

Is is possible to be a LITTLE locked up, or is that like being a LITTLE pregnant?

Any ideas to get it going if it's just "stuck"?

Thanks!

 

go to a parts store and get some marvel mystery oil , take the plugs out and shoot some in each cylinder. leave it for a couple days ( seems like forever i know ) but it needs this time to work on freeing up the rings from the block , it works , done it more than once, later jimmy

 

You have shed a ray of hope on a dark situation...I will do it!

 

i like that part about being a little pregnant... We've all had our scares
could this be a hydrolocked situation? Thrown connecting rod perhaps? in either case you'd be looking at a long block from Kragen. Best of luck to you.
-Boldguy

 

If it was a rod or hydro-locked, chances are you could turn the crank one way or the other, at least a little. If the rings are rusted to the cylinder walls it won't budge at all. Yes, Marvel Mystery Oil can sometimes perform miracles. They sell it at WalMart. Keep your fingers crossed. GOOD LUCK!!!

 

It wouldn't hurt to rule out a seized up alternator, or anything else driven by a belt.

 

I put the MMO in the cylinders, and tomorrow will be the third day, so I'm going to try and turn it over. Supposedly, this car had NO engine issues when it was parked a few years back, so rings is what I'm betting on. I'll let you know how it all works out!

Thanks for the tips, I'll also check the alternator and other accessories.

 

when I bought my 91 RS about a year ago it hadn't been run in 4 years, had major electrical issues, I had to completely rebuild the accessory harness under the hood (had been majorly shorted out/melted)

Was lucky enough that she fired right up once I fixed the wiring, but it was pretty stuck on the first crank, barely tuned over then started going faster and finally started.

Marvel Mystery Oil is good stuff though. I used it all the time back when I raced nitro R/C cars, would fill the engine with it after a race to keep the motor from rusting or seizing (they don't use piston rings, but rather a precise fit between piston and tapered chrome plated cylinder wall). Little 3.5cc engines that could rev to 40,000 rpm, pretty cool

 

It broke loose today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had to put the MMO in there twuce and wait almost a week, but I charged my battery up and kept bumping it, and it turned over!

Thanks for the help. It's still not running, but I think it may be a carb issue. The carb looks like crap, so I'm going to be looking into that.

Thanks again!