Bob Askew wrote:
>
> Can anyone suggest what I might try next. I have mostly re-assembled my
> '64 MK III Sprite HAN 8 L 39070 following a bare metal restoration. I
> did not dismantle the engine at all as it had been rebuilt 4,000 miles
> previously and was running beautifully prior to dismantling. I did
> disconnect the transmission and replace the clutch.
>
> Last weekend having finished wiring in the new harness and charging the
> battery I turned the key only to have the starter respond with a single
> "thump". The engine didn't budge a millimeter. I took out the plugs and
> tried to turn the engine by pushing the car in 4th gear. It seams the
> pistons are stuck fast. The engine is being rocked on the mounts by the
> torque but nothing is moving. Over the past week I have been spraying
> copious amounts of "Liquid Wrench" penetrating fluid into the cylinders
> to no avail.
>
> I have removed the starter to be sure it's not the problem and it has
> been suggested to me that I try to lever the flywheel by working a
> crowbar against the ring gear. This sounds a bit iffy to me as I think
> my minds eye sees a ring gear tooth or two flying around the garage
> accompanied by somewhat ripe language resulting from the removal of a
> square inch or two of skin from my knuckles.
>
> The engine was out from the car for less than 18 months and stored in my
> garage with the plugs in.
>
> Has anyone else been in this situation or are there any good ideas out
> there. Thanks
>
> Bob Askew
>
> robert_askew@bc.sympatico.bc
I dont know if this is any help, but is there any possibility that the
bolts you used to put the flywheel on are too long? I have seen
customers of ours take ford motors that we had run and once they are
installed in their cars, the motors would be "locked up". This was
caused by the flywheel bolts jamming into the rear of the engine block.
I don't know if this is a possibility, but it might be worth trying
before tearing into the engine.
Good Luck, Mark Snowdon, 109 U-Pull-It Auto Parts, Winston Salem NC
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