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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: 73CustomDeluxe on April 28, 2011, 01:04:56 pm
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So i believe my 350 has seized up. I was driving my truck home from work the other day (about a 54 mile round trip). about half way it started missing pretty bad. I figured it needed the plugs cleaned and a fuel filter. But about 2 miles from home it quit missing and started make a small "flapping sound" from the engine. I figured the belt had come loose from running through some water and tried to get home. about a mile later the flapping sound got a lot louder. it sounded like a plug was out. As i turned it started shaking real hard and died. So i started it (being about a mile from home) and it went about ten feet and died. I pulled off and tried it again. This time it was dead. So i got out and checked under the hood. The fuel filter was bad so i took it off and shook it out and let the gas in it run out. I put it back on and still nothing. After about 30 minutes of messing with it it finally started but now the sound was much louder and the whole truck was shaking. I jumped in and drove about 200 yards and it died again so i pulled off. It smelled hot so i checked the oil (the valve cover gaskets leak a little and it burns some). granted it had been running but there was none on the stick.So we called my girlfriends brother and went and got our other car and some oil. about 20 minutes later I put 2 quarts in it. this raised it just about the add mark. I got in and started it. This time the sound was even louder and it shook very hard and died. it blew a little smoke out of the engine bay and popped like air was being pushed out. After that the starter would only click, a few days later (yesterday) my dad drug it home. i charged the battery up (thinking that cranking so much killed it). now the starter will turn about a quarter turn then click a few times and hum like its trying to turn. To you guys out there with experience is my engine locked up and if so is there a way to fix it? i am leaving for marine corps boot camp in about two months so i dont really have time to do a lot,
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I talked to my dad and he said something about a guy he works with bought a 60s vette that had been sitting for 20 or so years and before he ever started it he pulled all the plugs and sprayed lubricant (wd40) in all the cylinders. He did this for three days and it started perfectly. He said it was because there's no oil on the first turn or so and the lubricant would keep it from binding. Is this a good thing to try?
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If it were me, I would pull the plugs out and see if it would turn over. My guess something big is wrong but that is where I would start...
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yea, doesnt sound all too promising, but you never know. keep us posted.
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You probably need a new motor or a rebuild. You can pour oil into the cylinders through the spark plug holes and give it some time, but the rings are more than likely shot. I'm surprised it turned over at all after you added oil, though. I would think it would be locked up completely.
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I'd be more worried about the main and rod bearings than the rings.
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Yeah sounds like you cooked it.
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Yeah. I don't think the rods are messed up. I'm pretty sure it didn't throw one. Or at least it didn't sound like it (of course I've never seen one thrown).
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Time to start looking on Craigslist for a $350 small block.
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You don't have to break a rod to ruin it.
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Your dad's friend's Vette is a different case, since his was sitting, and your truck was running with no oil. Running an old engine with no oil is a sure way to kill it. Sorry man, but I think it's toast.
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Sounds like you ran it all the way till it dropped dead.
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Funny you should mention this, my step dads friend called him the other day saying that he cooked his motor in his '92 k2500, said he was leaking oil for a while and forgot to put any in it for a while then he was driving and the low oil light came on, pulled over threw 2 quarts in drove home no problems. Next day goes to start her up and nothing. Then my step dad says okay I'll try to turn it over with a wrench but can't then he looks at the battery and the terminal was loose tightened it up a little and she fired right up. I'm not saying thats what happened to you but who knows what it could be, might not be as bad as you think.
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While I have had experiences similar to what Snibook referenced, I'm gonna jump on the bandwagon and say you fried yer engine. I'd say its time for a rebuild or a GMPP crate ( at or about the same cost depending on the machine shop)
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Pull the plugs and see if you can turn it over by hand. I'd have to say it sounds like you welded it together.
My Nephew is in the Marines. Thank you in advance for your service!
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True. I did see a 350 on craigslist. Will one from a 70s buick mount right?
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The only difference I can think of would be the casting of the block for motor mounts. If those lined up I would say you should be good.
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A 350 Buick will not directly bolt into your pickup.
It can be put in but you will need all the accessory drive brackets etc. the motor mounts, along with the coresponding frame mounts for them, and manifolds, or headers. Also a transmission or bell housing with B.O.P bolt pattern.
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Good catch blazin, totally forgot about the bell housing being different.
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k so update. i went out today and tried to start the 73 just to see since its been sitting for a few days. My battery is completely dead. not even a glow in the headlights. its weird because i charged it completely just last week and nothing was left on. i checked all of the switches and the keys have been out. any ideas? I'm going to look for shorts but i don't believe that's it because a few years ago we had a lot of problems with shorts in the main harness so we wired in a "main fuse" on the wires coming out of the terminal on the fire wall that all current runs through (it comes straight up for the battery and then out of the terminal) and the fuse is not blown. so i dont know. I'll check tomorrow. in the mean time, being green to mechanics, how do you turn the engine it's self? where do you go after you pull the plugs? thanks for all the advise.
oh and autorepr, thank you very much. it means a lot and i hope your Nephew is doing well. Semper fi.
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turn the crankshaft clockwise. how old is the battery? just because it got charged doesnt mean that the charge held.
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5/8ths socket on the balancer bolt, or a flywheel tool on the teeth of the flex plate, or flywheel.
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thanks but how lol. How do I get to the crankshaft or fly wheel? The battery is relatively new and I've never had problems with it.
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With the key off and maybe even the battery disconnected!
Either lay under the truck and reach up, or lean down in behind the radiator for the balancer bolt.
Remove the inspection cover under the flex plate, torque converter to access the flex plate teeth.
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After going thru something similar.......
1) Yes, after you get the inspection cover off the trans, you can use a long screwdriver, or equivalent, in two of the holes in the flexplate to try to turn the engine. Not recommended, but if it's all you got........ The best way is to use a flexplate turner tool.
2) Best to forget about the buick 350. And for that matter pontiac, oldsmobile and cadillac 350's; They are not the same engine. It would be easiest/cheapest to stick with chevy in your case.
3) IF the engine is seized, then i'm betting a valve dropped and is now wedged against a piston or other part. Also, just because it moves in one direction does not mean things are ok. The engine must be turned in both directions. i hope it is not seized though.
After what happened over the weekend, thank you for your upcoming service.
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thanks to everyone for the advise. I got the plugs out and found my original problem with the missing. The black passenger plug is completely fouled over. if this does happen to work a new set of plugs are in order. any ways i went ahead and sprayed the cylinders with oil and im about to go try to turn it.
and thanks Stewart G Griffin. I think our men deserve a big HOO RAH!!
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so i went and tried to turn the engine. no go. So i replaced all of the plugs (after spraying the cylinders) and tried the starter. still nothing. I did however find why i lost power. my positive battery cable is split in half.
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I think she's probably toast .
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I do too. Sad day. I don't think I have time to fix it. Seriously if anyone wants it ill let you have it for like 200 or something. Right now I have no time to mess with it. With work and getting ready for the corps o have like 5 minutes a day. And once boot hits then Ill have more on my plate. Hate to have to come to this
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Im not trying to talk you out of it, but Id wait to sell it until you know what duty station you'll be at after MOS school. If you get sent overseas, they will let you come home before you leave. Ive been in since 04, I know recruiters lie. If you have any questions, let me know.
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Its not just that. I'm getting married right after boot so a lot of my time will be family time. Plus I think its just time to move on to another project. I love this truck to death but if I'm going to spend the time and money on an engine swap then I'd rather wait till I get where I'm going and get like a muscle car or something. Also I'm wanting to become an officer so that will take a lot of time and dedication too.
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Yep. Keep your priorities straight.
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Commissioned officer? Word of advice, spend at least a enlistment, enlisted. At least till Sgt or SSgt. No one likes a know it all boot 2nd LT unless they are a mustang.
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Thanks guys. Yeah I want to be a cobra pilot.
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Ok so I went out today and noticed a puddle under my truck. It was antifreeze. So I opened the hood and the radiator is about 3/4 dry (it was full). Turns out its leaking right above the starter. There are so tranny cooling lines, but they aren't leaking. Me and my dad think the block split.
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Could be the freeze plug behind the starter...
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or a freeze plug is rotting out. can you see where the starting point is?
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Or it could be the head gasket.
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The 73 is on craigslist if you want to see
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Well guys I sold the 73. Kinda a sad day. Thanks to everyone on the forum who has helped me and wished me luck.
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Sorry to hear, but at the same time, you will be moving on to bigger and better things, good luck in boot camp and the rest of your years in the Corps. Study all the information your recruiter should have given you, if not, ask for it. Volunteer for any position your DIs ask for. Guide, Squad Leader, Scribe, etc. Anything. You just might receive a lil special treatment like not being hazed as much. Haze is the wrong word to use, but I dont know if you, or anyone else reading this knows what IT means, which is the correct term.
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Lol yeah our recruiters do a "warrior training" every week and we have all learned what IT means lol yeah he gave us the info and has really drilled us on it. He's also been really good with physical training. He uses a lot of fleet exercises (CFTs and the like) and a lot of returning marines say that the physical wasn't a 'big' issue. But the mental...lol but hey thanks for the advise.