So I bought an 87 firebird off my friend yesturday for 500 bucks. The whole car has been poorly repainted obviously by hand with a rattle can, and so Its hard for me to tell what trim it is. There are no Trans Am or Firebird logos at all on the car other than the back lights. This is my first project car, but I have already become rather disappointed my first day.

My friend had driven the car as a daily driver all of 2010, and than it sat outside all of 2011, and now I have it.

I guess my problem is that the engine will not budge. It is a 5.0 V8 305 (as far as I know.) The starter is new, and the battery is new, as well as the alternator, plugs, wires and distributor - but when I turn the key to start the engine, the starter engages but the engine just clunks as if it is unable to turn more than a millimetre. When watching under the hood while my friend turns the key, the belts jump just a fraction of an inch, the engine does not turn, and the starter will whine from the stress. I have also tried to turn the crankshaft pully with a wrench by hand, and it does not even budge the tiniest bit.

I am worried that the engine has seized beyond repair, but I really want to get this third gen running so I can begin to restore the rest of the vehicle.

So here are my questions-

1. Does this immediately sound like symptoms of a seized engine?
2. Could anything else cause this kind of problem?
3. Suppose the engine is seized. What sort of options do I have at this point? is it possible to unstick the engine, or should I be looking into getting a replacement?
4. How can I identify exactly which car I bought? Seeing as the whole car is a solid silver paint-over with no identifying features on it..

I bought the car so I could begin learning auto mechanics, and I have never owned an older car before, so treat me like a beginner aha

Thanks!

 

To see if it is seized I would remove the spark plugs, put the car in neutral (put something behind the wheels) and grab a breaker bar and try to turn the engine by the bolt on the bottom pulley (I think it is the bottom, I have been away from my car for a year)... If you are worried, you could spray some WD40 down the cylinders and let it sit for a few days first.

 

I would pull all the plugs and get some penetrating oil into each cylinder and let that soak for a couple days. Then keep trying to turn it by hand till it breaks free (with the plugs out). Might take a few days and repeated soaking with penetrating oil. When it does break free drain all the oil and refill it before you start it. I went through this same thing with one that sat 10 years.

 

I would suggest checking ALL the batt cable connections thoroughly.

 

i had nearly the same issue and it ended up being a corroded ground where the negative batt. cable attached to the block.

BUT pull the plugs and make sure that motor is free. you dont want to burn up a good starter trying to spin a stuck motor.

 

Carefully
That fine thread bolt bolt strips easy if engine is tight
If car is a stick ( you don't say ) , then you can try rocking it in gear to break engine loose