Hi Bob,
Don't have any good news. You didn't mention if the car rolls in neutral.
I'm just trying to ascertain all the facts. It would be awful to remove the
engine only to find you had a stuck rear brake, or had painted a moving
part.
Other than that, I would start pulling the engine. If the pistons are
rusted to the cylinders, you have to pull the engine. If the journals are
rusted, pull the engine. I don't think a frozen water pump will cause the
engine to lock up. It time to at least pull the head to see what's going on
inside. If there is substantial rust in any of the wear surfaces they must
be redone or the will mar the cylinder walls or the crank shaft.
Bob Askew wrote:
> Can anyone suggest what I might try next. I have mostly re-assembled my
> '64 MK III Sprite HAN 8 L 39070 following a bare metal restoration. I
> did not dismantle the engine at all as it had been rebuilt 4,000 miles
> previously and was running beautifully prior to dismantling. I did
> disconnect the transmission and replace the clutch.
>
> Last weekend having finished wiring in the new harness and charging the
> battery I turned the key only to have the starter respond with a single
> "thump". The engine didn't budge a millimeter. I took out the plugs and
> tried to turn the engine by pushing the car in 4th gear. It seams the
> pistons are stuck fast. The engine is being rocked on the mounts by the
> torque but nothing is moving. Over the past week I have been spraying
> copious amounts of "Liquid Wrench" penetrating fluid into the cylinders
> to no avail.
>
> I have removed the starter to be sure it's not the problem and it has
> been suggested to me that I try to lever the flywheel by working a
> crowbar against the ring gear. This sounds a bit iffy to me as I think
> my minds eye sees a ring gear tooth or two flying around the garage
> accompanied by somewhat ripe language resulting from the removal of a
> square inch or two of skin from my knuckles.
>
> The engine was out from the car for less than 18 months and stored in my
> garage with the plugs in.
>
> Has anyone else been in this situation or are there any good ideas out
> there. Thanks
>
> Bob Askew
>
> robert_askew@bc.sympatico.bc
--
52 MGTD,Sparky 74 MGB, B-tris 76 XJ12 Coupe, Jacque
60 Bugeye, Puddles 58 MGA Coupe, Ruby
http://www.softcom.net/users/walters
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/4644
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