The Ford Barn

Chiefguy · 12-13-2018, 02:31 PM

Hello. I was advised to get on this forum and introduce myself.
I am retired and just bought an old Model A Ford or Sedan.
Problem.....engine is frozen. I have been soaking pistons with mystery oil and ATF. No luck.
The car is otherwise nice.
Ideas?

Licensed to kill · 12-13-2018, 02:54 PM

A friend of mine was given a flathead that was seized. he soaked the cylinders with penetrating oil for over a week with no luck. He then put vinegar in the cylinders and the motor turned over by hand (with resistance) the next day.

JOHN CT · 12-13-2018, 03:08 PM

How long have you been soaking the cylinders? Are you trying the crank or starter to spin it over? ATF is a good solution but i never mixed it with Marvel mystery oil. Trying mixing the ATF with acetone and get a socket and a breaker bar on the crank pulley nut. That helps to get better movement.
I’ve freed stuck motors that way. Just have patients.

copgib · 12-13-2018, 03:15 PM

it sounds like it is now a waiting game. Let the chemicals do there job. It will free up! Hugh

1930artdeco · 12-13-2018, 03:29 PM

Welcome to the Barn! How about some Pics?

Mike

Chiefguy · 12-13-2018, 03:55 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thank you for all the interest to help!
I will continue to pour ATF into the one cylinder that it takes over night to drain out of. The other three seem to drain down in 15 mins or so.
I will try conifer next week...lol
Thanks guys

I pulled the car today...third gear...left skid marks both rear wheels.

WHN · 12-13-2018, 04:12 PM

Give it some time. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Also check other things that could be holding things. Is your Starter stuck, also take off valve cover and check if valves and lifters are free to move. Another place to use MMO.

Keep us informed. Enjoy.

Chiefguy · 12-13-2018, 04:26 PM

Yes, been soaking a week. Been jumping on hand crank, and pull/dragged her today. No luck.

Charlie Stephens · 12-13-2018, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefguy

Thank you for all the interest to help!
I will continue to pour ATF into the one cylinder that it takes over night to drain out of. The other three seem to drain down in 15 mins or so.
I will try conifer next week...lol
Thanks guys

I pulled the car today...third gear...left skid marks both rear wheels.

I would be worried about bending rods and breaking gears if I pulled it to get it turn over. Take it apart and fix it right.

Charlie Stephens

Chiefguy · 12-13-2018, 04:36 PM

Thanks friend. Going to try your path next. I do have time....I think. Lol

Steve Plucker · 12-13-2018, 04:38 PM

Is the clutch froze up on the flywheel?

Pluck

WHN · 12-13-2018, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens

I would be worried about bending rods and breaking gears if I pulled it to get it turn over. Take it apart and fix it right.

Charlie Stephens

Charlie’s right. Don’t take a chance on breaking other things that aren’t now broken.

As I mention, get some (a lot) penetrating oil on your valves and lifters, cam and bearings. Valve cover should come off now.

Is there rust on cylinder walls?

Does car roll freely when in neutral.

How long has it been since the engine was last started?

Picture of engine would help.

Chiefguy · 12-13-2018, 04:52 PM

I had a spinal cord trama five years ago. Big jobs are out of my capabilities these days

But thank you for my friend

Chiefguy · 12-13-2018, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WHN

Charlie’s right. Don’t take a chance on breaking other things that aren’t now broken.

As I mention, get some (a lot) penetrating oil on your valves and lifters, cam and bearings. Valve cover should come off now.

Is there rust on cylinder walls?

Does car roll freely when in neutral.

How long has it been since the engine was last started?

Picture of engine would help.

The car does roll freely. I:ll try to get pics soon. Car is 45 miles away, so don't get there everyday.
I was told engine ran 3 years ago.
There is black crud on pistons, but couldn't tell if rust.
When I pulled plugs, looked like she had run last couple days.
Having trouble finding how to post car pics

Chiefguy · 12-13-2018, 05:06 PM

Did my pictures go thru.
I am lost at this

1930artdeco · 12-13-2018, 05:15 PM

Yep you have a nice late 30 Briggs Fordoor.

Mike

Chiefguy · 12-13-2018, 05:16 PM

Like your sedan Mike

WHN · 12-13-2018, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefguy

Did my pictures go thru.
I am lost at this

Got the pictures.

Take some of engine, might help in understanding condition of engine. Left and right side, plus top.

Car looks like your going to have fun. We just have to get it running.

Chiefguy · 12-13-2018, 05:18 PM

Clutch and trans feel good

Chiefguy · 12-13-2018, 05:22 PM

Going to sign off for now. Back later...or tomorrow.
Thanks guys

12-13-2018, 02:31 PM	#1
Chiefguy Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: West Middlesex, PA Posts: 46	New to Model A Hello. I was advised to get on this forum and introduce myself. I am retired and just bought an old Model A Ford or Sedan. Problem.....engine is frozen. I have been soaking pistons with mystery oil and ATF. No luck. The car is otherwise nice. Ideas?

12-13-2018, 02:54 PM	#2
Licensed to kill Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Alberta Posts: 930	Re: New to Model A A friend of mine was given a flathead that was seized. he soaked the cylinders with penetrating oil for over a week with no luck. He then put vinegar in the cylinders and the motor turned over by hand (with resistance) the next day.

12-13-2018, 03:08 PM	#3
JOHN CT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: In my garage Posts: 468	Re: New to Model A How long have you been soaking the cylinders? Are you trying the crank or starter to spin it over? ATF is a good solution but i never mixed it with Marvel mystery oil. Trying mixing the ATF with acetone and get a socket and a breaker bar on the crank pulley nut. That helps to get better movement. I’ve freed stuck motors that way. Just have patients. __________________ 31 Tudor 66 Bonneville 57 Chevy pickup 27 T roadster pick up

12-13-2018, 03:15 PM	#4
copgib Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Williston, Florida Posts: 82	Re: New to Model A it sounds like it is now a waiting game. Let the chemicals do there job. It will free up! Hugh

12-13-2018, 03:29 PM	#5
1930artdeco Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lynden, Wa Posts: 3,784	Re: New to Model A Welcome to the Barn! How about some Pics? Mike __________________ 1930 TownSedan (Briggs) 1957 Country Sedan

12-13-2018, 03:55 PM	#6
Chiefguy Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: West Middlesex, PA Posts: 46	Re: New to Model A Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thank you for all the interest to help! I will continue to pour ATF into the one cylinder that it takes over night to drain out of. The other three seem to drain down in 15 mins or so. I will try conifer next week...lol Thanks guys I pulled the car today...third gear...left skid marks both rear wheels.

12-13-2018, 04:12 PM	#7
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,977	Re: New to Model A Give it some time. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Also check other things that could be holding things. Is your Starter stuck, also take off valve cover and check if valves and lifters are free to move. Another place to use MMO. Keep us informed. Enjoy.

12-13-2018, 04:26 PM	#8
Chiefguy Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: West Middlesex, PA Posts: 46	Re: New to Model A Yes, been soaking a week. Been jumping on hand crank, and pull/dragged her today. No luck.

12-13-2018, 04:36 PM	#10
Chiefguy Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: West Middlesex, PA Posts: 46	Re: New to Model A Thanks friend. Going to try your path next. I do have time....I think. Lol

12-13-2018, 04:38 PM	#11
Steve Plucker BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Walla Walla, Washington USA Posts: 6,066	Re: New to Model A Is the clutch froze up on the flywheel? Pluck

12-13-2018, 04:52 PM	#13
Chiefguy Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: West Middlesex, PA Posts: 46	Re: New to Model A I had a spinal cord trama five years ago. Big jobs are out of my capabilities these days But thank you for my friend

12-13-2018, 05:15 PM	#16
1930artdeco Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lynden, Wa Posts: 3,784	Re: New to Model A Yep you have a nice late 30 Briggs Fordoor. Mike __________________ 1930 TownSedan (Briggs) 1957 Country Sedan

12-13-2018, 05:16 PM	#17
Chiefguy Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: West Middlesex, PA Posts: 46	Re: New to Model A Like your sedan Mike

12-13-2018, 05:18 PM	#19
Chiefguy Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: West Middlesex, PA Posts: 46	Re: New to Model A Clutch and trans feel good

12-13-2018, 05:22 PM	#20
Chiefguy Member Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: West Middlesex, PA Posts: 46	Re: New to Model A Going to sign off for now. Back later...or tomorrow. Thanks guys