Hal---Chances are good that some sort of abrasive debris came in with
the flood water, and remained behind when the engine was "flushed" thru
external means. To turn the engine over at this time, assuming it could
be done forcefully, it's likely that cylinder walls, bearings and seals,
and crank would be scored. Complete disassembly is the answer here.
If you like to gamble, or the engine was in need of major overhaul
anyhow, then give it a try, as is.
I don't know if rust alone would've had time to freeze the engine during
its 10 day submerging. Rocking the car with the transmission in gear
might free it. Or, try a pipe wrench on the fan extension.
Dick
From: halmorton@cableone.net(Hal Morton)
No WEBTV?
Subject: TR related Katrina aftermath
Listers,
....My 1974 TR6 parts car didn't fare so well. It was in the back
yard at my home and was completely submerged. Which leads to my
question. When an engine gets "stuck" from sitting, or in this case
being flooded- what is it that keeps the engine from turning? Rings
rusted to cylinder walls? Or is the major resistance usually somewhere
else? The engine turned by hand before the hurricane. It was about 10
days after before I had (or took) the time to drain the oil and water
from the engine. I refilled with new oil, sucked the water out through
the spark plug holes, sprayed WD 40 back in through them and the intake
and exhaust ports, sucked that back out,and filled the cylinders with
oil. What I'm really asking is, what else should I do until I get the
time to disassemble the engine? Is there any advantage to trying to free
it before then? Or should I just leave it alone until I can do the whole
job? Thanks for any advice. Hal Morton, Pascagoula, MS
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