Re: The Packard Institute's 1949 project

Posted by 55PackardGuy On 2010/5/10 21:12:35

Dropping the pan before proceeding is the best advice you've received so far, in my opinion. Starting it with who-knows-what kind of sludge stuck to the pan and inside the oil pickup is asking for trouble.

Seriously, I would not attempt turning it over without quite a bit of careful preparation. If the pan and oil pump pickup clean up OK, replace and fill with oil. Then, take out the plugs and pour some penetrating oil into each plug hole and let it sit overnight. I use Marvel Mystery Oil, but others swear by their own brand of snake oil--they can chime in if they want to. About a quarter cup per cylinder should do it. Do NOT replace the plugs...

After it sits overnight, try turning it BY HAND without the plugs in place. If it'll turn using the fan blade, that's ideal. If it doesn't, try turning it with a wrench on the crank pulley. If that doesn't do it, it's time to pull the head and see what's happening in there. Not to worry, this is pretty standard procedure with "barn finds" and any good wrench-benders like your students can do it with some supervision.

If you can turn it by hand, give the starter a try. Once you've blown out the penetrating oil, replace the plugs with fresh ones. It might even start! Be ready for lots and lots of smoke. No worries, it'll clear up unless you have seriously bad rings or valves.

Hold off buying parts until you know what needs to be done to loosen it up. For instance, you may not need a starter! Removing and bench testing the starter will tell the tale--very educational, too.

Cranking 'er over will be much more exciting if she has a chance of firing up.

Note: Trying to crank a seized engine can make a lot more work in the long run, because you can easily break a piston ring (or rings).

Good luck! A little patience will pay.