<VV> Seized engines

[Clark Hartzel]

I once bought a 1963 Monza coupe that sat in a dirt floor barn for 20 years
or more.  The owner wanted much more than I was willing to pay so I put a
wrench on the crank pulley and proved to him it was seized up and needed a
new engine.  He agreed and cut his price in half and I dragged it home.
It turned out the valve stems were rusted into the guides.  I pulled the
valve covers, gave each rocker arm a big whack with a rubber hammer over the
valve stem end breaking them loose.  I sprayed some penetrating oil down the
valve stems to give a little lubrication and the engine turned over just
fine.  I hooked up a battery and got it running after priming the carbs.  It
did not need to be rebuilt and ended up my daughter's first car in high
school.  Unfortunately she got hit in an intersection by a guy who ran a red
light and the car was scrap as the entire front end was pushed to the right
about 4".  I scored major points by asking my wife how our daughter was
instead of asking about the car!  GRIN
Clark Hartzel