Yous guys crack me up. I've been lurking around for a while, and
finally have a bit of input. For engines that have been sitting for a
long time, the primary failure mode is both sticky rings and scored
cylinders. The rings stick due to gummed oil on the inside of the
ring land that can't get out. The scoring is due to plain ole'
oxidation of the walls.
There are a lot of home remidies that are tried, and from my
experience with four long time sitting engines, I can say that none
of them 'came back' all the way from hibernation. There's just no way
to clear the oil from the lands and the rust from the walls.
Having said that, the Marvel's is probably the best idea. I poured
Jet-A fuel(kerosene) into the cylinders and crankcase of one stuck
engine and let it pickle for a week. Then slowly vacuum it out the
plug hole, drain case, change to very light oil with lots of
detergent (do these cars have an oil filter?) and try running it in.
One important factor is from the very first time you start it, to
bring it all the way up to temperature. Make sure the cooling and
fuel systems are ready and really warm it up. Slight overheating
isn't a bad thing except try not to load the engine with that thin
oil.
Change the oil and filter(putative) after an hour or so, and do the
same thing again. You may get lucky and have a fair running engine
for a few hundred hours. One of the biggest factors in recovery of
the engine is the climate it was stored in. A car that was
properly 'put-up' with WD-40 in the cylinders, and stored indoors in
Arizona is going to have a much better chance than one that was
driven into a barn in coastal Mississipppi and left on it's own.
If you want to preserve what may be a good engine, and the oil pan is
accesable, is to take off the head, and oil pan, push the pistons out
the top and just clean things nicely. Hone and wash the cylinders
with Boraxo, rinse, and put it back together with a new head gasket,
and probably a few new valve springs. I know that sounds like a lot
more work, and is close to a true rebuild, but it could save the
engine from serious damage to pistons, cylinders, bearings, oil pump,
cam, etc.
Wishing to get a swimmer someday, but have a pretty big collection
now. Best of luck and congrats on your true barn find.
Doc
--- In amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Connelly"
<billiam@e...> wrote:
> Marvel Mystery Oil. Lots of it.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Allan Woodcock
> To: Amphicar Lovers
> Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2004 12:33 AM
> Subject: [amphicar-lovers] A NEW Amphi has seen the light of day!!
>
>
> Keith,
> Glad to hear about your "new" Amphi. My car had been sitting
from 1971
> until 2001. The engine turned over fine but when we took it
apart the
> rings were stuck and the valve springs had lost their spring.
Also, I
> know of a very very experienced Amphicar owner who started an
engine
> that had been sitting for many years and scored the cylinder
walls. Hope
> I not being an alarmist! Does anyone else in the group have
input for
> Keith.
>
> Allan
> '66 red
>
>
>
>
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