[NoVa-Corvairs] RE: Frozen Engine

[Puglisi, Michael]

Curt-

Thanks for your reply.  It sounds like there are many good ways to lower the
drive train.  I agree that it does seem worth the couple hours to remove it.
In addition to the a shop manual, I also have powertrain removal
instructions that I bought from Clarks for a couple bucks.  Those give
really explicit details and pictures.  Not that you guys need that, but if
it comes down to it, I can at least get a good head start on the job.  I
understand about having to wait my turn for a club tech session. 

I'll keep working with the penetrating oil and trying to turn that
crankshaft bolt.  By the way, what I call a combination wrench has a
crescent on one end and a box on the other. I guess that's not exactly a
universal term.  Anyway, it sounds like I have the right wrench but I'll
start using that pipe for leverage, as you suggested. 

I'm still very curious/concerned about which direction to try to turn that
bolt.  I believe when the engine runs, that bolt (and the pulley, belt, and
fan) turns counter clockwise.  I suppose I should only try to turn it in
that direction.  Any comments?

I also welcome any additional comments from you or other club members about
anything.  Thanks.

-Mike Puglisi  



  

-----Original Message-----
From: Curtis L Shimp [mailto:clshimp@juno.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 8:23 AM
To: puglisim@cder.fda.gov
Cc: novacc-list@corvair.org
Subject: Frozen Engine


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