[NoVa-Corvairs] Frozen Engine

[Curtis L Shimp]

Mike:

First if I knew that you had driven the car home after the clutch job I
forgot it.  That would mean that it is unlikely that bolts in the bell
housing or flywheel are locking up the engine.  

As Al mentioned don't mess around with kerosine and Marvel Mystery oil,
use a penetrating oil as he suggested.

In place of a "combination" wrench"??, whatever that is, I use a 3/4" box
end wrench with a piece of pipe slid over the end to give me leverage.

Regarding pulling the heads off the engine while the latter is still in
the car and then working on the pistons and rings, in my experience the
answer is no.  It is too difficult to work on the engine in the car.  I
can't drop an engine in 30 minutes like Al mentioned but I do do it in 2
hours.  And while it is out, it is so much easier to look around and fix
other problems like oil leaks, new gaskets, cleaning, etc.

Regarding jacks, a good floor jack is an asset but I have removed engines
with two Corvair scissor jacks.  I use a board to place under the engine
and transaxle.  Once, in place of a board, I used a large piece of stiff
cardboard doubled over.  I place the jacks on a creeper and pull the
engine out when it is free of the body.  Or in the good old days I used a
large piece of cardboard and pulled the cardboard with the engine on it
out.  This latter works well especially if you are on dusty concrete.

Pulling the engine could be a good, club, morning tech session,
especially if you have gotten some of the top side work done before we
get there.  Unfortunately, the club currently has a back log of helping
members with major engine problems and then during this time of the year
there are a number of weekend Corvair events.  But with a little patience
August or September might work.

					Curt Shimp