Advice on seized engine
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 2
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Advice on seized engine Hello, I'm here because I don't really know what to do. My brother passed away and left a 2000 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am 5.7L he had for a long time. We tried turning the crankshaft and think the engine is seized. There were a string of issues that led to it sitting for several years and a year or two ago when they tried to start it the starter mounts broke and now the crankshaft won't turn. I had hoped to work on it and was OK with known issues (replacing starter, replacing alternator, etc) but a seized engine is too much.
Would anybody even buy it in this condition? What is it worth? The paint is peeling but otherwise all the body panels are in good condition. I don't have the desire to part it out and would rather just have it gone but don't know where to start.
Would anybody even buy it in this condition? What is it worth? The paint is peeling but otherwise all the body panels are in good condition. I don't have the desire to part it out and would rather just have it gone but don't know where to start.
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 196
Likes: 72
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Did it turn over prior to the starter issue? If it did, and now it doesn't immediately following the broken starter, you could have some real bad problems. If it did not turn over prior to the starter issue, its likely locked up from rust; try dumping some marvel mystery oil through the spark plug holes and let it sit a day or two. With the spark plugs removed, get a breaker bar and the crank bolt and gentle wiggle it back and forth
If you broke the starter pad, the block will need repaired, or a bridge bracket might save it.
Try to get a pic of the starter to block mount for us to see.
pull the plugs first and try to turn the engine over.
next Id pull the valve covers and look for any broken valve springs or rockers.
Try to get a pic of the starter to block mount for us to see.
pull the plugs first and try to turn the engine over.
next Id pull the valve covers and look for any broken valve springs or rockers.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Did it turn over prior to the starter issue? If it did, and now it doesn't immediately following the broken starter, you could have some real bad problems. If it did not turn over prior to the starter issue, its likely locked up from rust; try dumping some marvel mystery oil through the spark plug holes and let it sit a day or two. With the spark plugs removed, get a breaker bar and the crank bolt and gentle wiggle it back and forth
Did you try turning it over by hand with all of the spark plugs removed? If you do remove all of the plugs and the engine is still seized then you're going to need to pull the engine. Starter could also be binding up on the flywheel or flexplate so remove that too and see what happens. BTW is this a manual or auto?
