Help, 350 seized

H

helmet

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Aug 6, 2012
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Thanks in advance,

This is what has happened; I was on the Lake and the engine bogged down and shut off. I tried re-starting with no success, so I checked if I was getting gas. I thought I was at that time. After being towed in, I took it home and and I shot a spray of starter fluid and it cranked over. I cranked it again to see if I was getting gas and it locked up. I was able to turn the motor counter-clockwise by means of the bolt on the harmonic balancer. Since it was a fuel problem, suspected, I pulled the mechanical pump. I did not pull the rod, it slipped all the way down to the plate. I have checked all the spark plugs and they are perfect, the oil has no water or metal chips. I am at a loss please help trying to get the boat fixed before the season is over.
 
Idlespeedonly

Idlespeedonly

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Re: Help, 350 seized

Pull the outdrive of, to make sure it isnt locked up.
 
southkogs

southkogs

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Re: Help, 350 seized

Welcome aboard Helmet.

What year and what outdrive?
 
H

helmet

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Re: Help, 350 seized

I have a 1993 Crownline with a OMC 350 and outdrive. Thanks for the help
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

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Re: Help, 350 seized

Idlespeedonly said:
Pull the outdrive of, to make sure it isnt locked up.
Click to expand...
I agree that you should pull the outdrive off too.

Curious why you would turn the engine counterclockwise.

Has anyone changed the outdrive oil lately? If so, was it filled properly from the middle hole?
 
H

helmet

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Re: Help, 350 seized

Well I pulled the drive and screwed up the drive cable, but it is still seized, I can turn the motor counter clockwise and then back and it seizes. How do I figure out if I have a interference or non- interference motor? Wouldn't that tell me if it was a valve issue? And if it is a non- interference would this mean my season is over? I will have to pull the motor? Please advise the wife is pissed! LOL
 
H

HT32BSX115

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Re: Help, 350 seized

helmet said:
Well I pulled the drive and screwed up the drive cable, but it is still seized, I can turn the motor counter clockwise and then back and it seizes. How do I figure out if I have a interference or non- interference motor? Wouldn't that tell me if it was a valve issue? And if it is a non- interference would this mean my season is over? I will have to pull the motor? Please advise the wife is pissed! LOL
Click to expand...


Howdy,


Well, if the engine will turn in any direction, it's not "seized".

I have checked all the spark plugs and they are perfect, the oil has no water or metal chips. I am at a loss please help trying to get the boat fixed before the season is over.
Click to expand...

Did you crank the engine with the sparkplugs removed? Same problem?

How do I figure out if I have a interference or non- interference motor?
Click to expand...
Unless you have 11:1 pistons etc......no. you don't have an "interference motor" I don't think any SBC 350 is........
 
H

helmet

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Re: Help, 350 seized

Yes, I did crank the motor with the plugs removed and same problem. I understand what you are saying about "seized." So it stops at the same point everytime. Any ideas?
 
bruceb58

bruceb58

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Re: Help, 350 seized

I would take the valve covers off and see if you dropped a valve.

I know its not your main issue right now but what happened to the cable? I assume lower shift cable? You took it off in neutral right?
 
Idlespeedonly

Idlespeedonly

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Re: Help, 350 seized

It could be alot of things. It is all speculation at this point. The wife is going to be even more pissed. It sounds like you or somebody is pulling an engine.
 
Bondo

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Re: Help, 350 seized

Idlespeedonly said:
It could be alot of things. It is all speculation at this point. The wife is going to be even more pissed. It sounds like you or somebody is pulling an engine.
Click to expand...

Ayuh,.... Pullin' the motor is gonna be the Easy part,....

Tellin' the ole lady yer buyin' a new Motor might be tougher...

It really don't matter what's broken,... the motor is easier to work on, on a stand, insteada in the hull...

Even if a valve caused it, the lower end needs lookin' at....
 
H

HT32BSX115

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Re: Help, 350 seized

Idlespeedonly said:
It could be alot of things. It is all speculation at this point. The wife is going to be even more pissed. It sounds like you or somebody is pulling an engine.
Click to expand...
Yeah. You are definitely pulling the engine!
 
H

helmet

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Re: Help, 350 seized

bruceb58 and Bond-o, you speak of valves, but isnt this motor a non-interference, which would mean the valve wouldnt stop it from turning or am I wrong about that?
As far as the cable, I did have it neutral, but when I seperated it to disconnect the quick-disconnect it got screwed up. First time dealing with removal I chalk that up to.
So say it is a connecting rod, I have someone pull the motor, about how much is that? Then to rebuild myself, because I cant afford a new crate motor, what would be the least exspensive way?
I see on craigslist 1991-1992 350's block with pistons and crank for sale all the time for anywhere $200-$400. Could this be a cheaper way out since I would be swapping over everything else and of course if my Heads are good?
 
bruceb58

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Re: Help, 350 seized

helmet said:
bruceb58 and Bond-o, you speak of valves, but isnt this motor a non-interference, which would mean the valve wouldnt stop it from turning or am I wrong about that?
Click to expand...
Doesn't matter if its interference or not, if somethign happened that caused a valve to drop, its going to interfere.

Have no idea what you are talking about on a quick disconnect. There is no such thing. You took the whole drive off right? You didn't seperate top from bottom right?
 
H

helmet

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Re: Help, 350 seized

Okay so if the interference or non does not matter and that is the problem, how much damage did I do? This did not happen when the motor was running, only when it was being started. Any idea on how much it would be to have the motor pulled?
 
Idlespeedonly

Idlespeedonly

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Re: Help, 350 seized

Nobody knows what damage has been done.
In your first post you said it bogged down and shut off. This was the beginning of your problem. So yes it did happen when your motor was running. As for the cost to pull the engine, Depends on who does it. If a dealer does it, expect up to 500.00. If Bubba does it behind his house under the oak tree then 100.00.
 
Reinell-BRXL-191

Reinell-BRXL-191

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Re: Help, 350 seized

First thing I would do is pull the valve covers... look for a valve or spring that doesn't look right- at least, if this is not the problem, you only need a new set of gaskets.. if you do find a valve or spring with a problem, then that head comes off.. and then you see if it caused any major damage to the piston top.. if it did.. then and only then should the engine come out... find the problem before you try and fix it...

Now you say it will counter rotate, but how far will it turn? have you tried to do 2 complete revolutions to make sure it won't come back around and bang in to the same problem? This could be many things causing this.. something as small as a bent push rod hitting the head and locking the camshaft so it won't turn.. all the way to a connecting rod hitting the side of the block.. I would go thru the complete top end before removing the engine..
 
Scott Danforth

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Re: Help, 350 seized

since you can turn the motor back and then forward, its not seized. one of two things happened. you either dropped a valve like bruce mentioned which means a complete rebuild, or you hydrolocked it and shortened a connecting rod which means a complete rebuild.

depending on your skills, garage, etc. you can pull the motor for as little as a $10 per day rental on a tall cherry picker, or as much as $50 worth of lumber to build a temporary framework over the boat and pull it that way.
 
Bondo

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Re: Help, 350 seized

Scott Danforth said:
since you can turn the motor back and then forward, its not seized. one of two things happened. you either dropped a valve like bruce mentioned which means a complete rebuild, or you hydrolocked it and shortened a connecting rod which means a complete rebuild.

depending on your skills, garage, etc. you can pull the motor for as little as a $10 per day rental on a tall cherry picker, or as much as $50 worth of lumber to build a temporary framework over the boat and pull it that way.
Click to expand...

Ayuh,.... Or a Wrecker service with an extenda-boom,... probably 'bout the same money as the wooden gantry...
or a neighbor with a backhoe,...
or strip the motor in the hull to the short block, 'n invite a few stout, strong friends over...
or,...... ;)
 
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