novarx7

I made a post about two weeks ago regarding an '85 GSL I picked up for cheap and wanted to get it running (i bought it after it had been sitting for 3 years or more).

I noticed the engine was seized when I got it home two weeks ago, but had to wait for nicer weather to begin work. Yesterday morning I ran some ATF into through the spark plug holes and let it sit until later in the evening, rotated the main pulley to my surprise and it spun - only about 100 degrees before getting stuck again - so I put a little more ATF in and let it sit until today. I went back out.. it was still pretty stuck and I figured I'd give it a little nudge, so i put it in 5th gear pushed on it and it popped free. I didn't hear any bad metal sounds so I feel like the ATF lubricated enough to keep the seal from braking (I HOPE).

Next I put some plugs in it, some fresh gas, new battery terminals and hooked the jumper cables to my jeep - i figured the jeeps batter/alt would produce plenty of cranking amps.

It spun over and sputtered once, but didnt start. I went ahead and checked everything else. The lights, horn, radio, power windows, etc all worked which made me happy since i bought it without being able to test anything. I did swap in an ignition switch from my parts car though and everything seems to come on board.

The car wont start still though, I ran out of time so i'll play more next weekend w/ some starter fluid and see if i can at least get it to run for a few seconds. I did pull the spark plug from the front rotor and spun it over - it was hardly audible on the "puffs" though which makes me nervous (i'm hoping the seals are just stuck, but they may actually be broken or missing all together - who knows what the previous owner did).. the rear rotor however sounds really strong.

If I cant get it running on both rotors even w/ 81K on the motor, I'm going to swap in my running 134k motor just so i can drive it around and get it inspected, etc. On the bright side, I have a "lower" mileage engine core now I can do an even bigger BP then the other engine i was building...

I'll keep you updated...

Oh, and i found my "new but old" racing beat plug wires - just need to clean up the connections a little, but they should be good still...

MosesX605

Sounds like you're on the right track. Hopefully it's just a fuel or spark problem that's keeping it from starting.

novarx7

The mechanic who owned the shop where i picked the car up said the customer kept bringing it there because it was flooding but he couldnt figure out why. I believe he said he had already rebuilt the carb. I'm more concerned about the lack of powerful "puffs" from the front rotor when i spin it over - but i'll give it one more chance before I throw the other engine in w/ the holley carb...

AcidAngel7477

iTrader: (16)

i think it is obviously carbon locked, your on the right track with the atf.so keep trying and good luck..


:AA:

novarx7

Do you think carbon could also keep the seals stuck "in" to where they wouldn't be holding pressure out against the housings?

rotaryboy23

iTrader: (1)

Yes. That's exactly why you can "reclaim" junkyard engines with enough ATF treatment. I've been told to ad a bit of solvent to the ATF... makes it absorb more carbon and keeps it less thick than ATF. I'd suggest cleaning out as much of it as you can before starting it though...
Don't use brand new plugs when doing ATF/. you'll burn them out right away

novarx7

Yea, I've used ATF before on engines, but they have almost always come around after being unstuck.

I'm using used spark plugs too, I've got tons of 'em, lol...

I have to wait until next weekend before I can do more though - at least now the motor spins around enough for me to put more ATF in..

MosesX605

Don't go overboard on the ATF. One capful per rotor face should be more than enough to get 'er going.

novarx7

Yea, i havent used too much yet. The stock exhaust is coming off as soon as its running anyways, so I'm not uber concerned w/ destroying my cats, etc... and I will be swapping in the BP motor shortly. I just want this thing running to test other systems such as the brakes, the suspension, the steering, etc... it doesnt have to run great...