Small block demand?

[Evan Dutch]

Good morning, I'm beginning to strip down my 72 swinger and deciding what I need and what I do not. The car has the original 318 mostly complete minus the valve covers, water pump,distributor. I was not able to turn the motor over by hand as I assume it is locked up. Was wondering if there was a demand for locked up 318s before it goes to the scrap yard?

 

[TrailBeast]

Not unless your neighbor wants a free project for practice.
If you end up just needing to get rid of it maybe put it on craigslist for free.

The heads (might) be worth something.

 

[72Dart6pack]

Save or sell it? One mans scrap is another mans great find.

 

[whitepunkonnitro]

There is an amazingly fast growing demand for lower performance, Mopar driver type cars.
You would be shocked at how much money you could wring out of that 318 with some patience and diligence.
I sell a ton of parts to guys getting into these cars, and undoing the modifications previous owners performed on them.
A growing, international market with no signs of slowing down

 

[72bluNblu]

What have you done other than try to turn it over? Most stuck engines aren't really all that damaged, it's pretty easy for them to get ring stuck from a little moisture. A little oil or ATF in the cylinders and some time will usually unstick them. Even if it's more serious than that you can often disassemble the engine and have it rebuilt, most of the time it's only one or two cylinders that are stuck and if it's going .030" over anyway a lot of things will clean up as long as there's no big gouges from hammering the pistons out. I've unstuck several engines just by letting them sit for a couple days with some marvel mystery oil in the cylinders.

Not sure what your build plans are, but if it's the original engine it might be worth trying a few things before you scrap it. As scrap it's barely worth the trip to the recycler, and I don't know about there but around here I've tried to get rid of a couple 318's without any luck, I couldn't even give away my last 318, and it turned over freely, had been run by me at one point, and would have made a good core.

[FOR SALE] - Free to a "good" home- 12/10/73 318 core

 

[Lelo Dart]

"Locked up" won't help sell it. You could try spraying penetrant in the spark plug holes and let it sit for a while. If you can get it turning again I'm sure you could get better than scrap prices for it. Shame to throw away a SBM. 390ci would be cool.

 

[TrailBeast]

There is an amazingly fast growing demand for lower performance, Mopar driver type cars.
You would be shocked at how much money you could wring out of that 318 with some patience and diligence.
I sell a ton of parts to guys getting into these cars, and undoing the modifications previous owners performed on them.
A growing, international market with no signs of slowing down

Thanks Tony.
Want to buy a 318 that has 80/45 psi but smokes a little?

 

[Evan Dutch]

I've already got one 360 and another one on the way to be a 408. I don't need the 318. I've pulled the plugs and soaked all the cylinders with penetrating oil. Then let it sit over night. I got the largest beaker bar I could find and attempted to turn it over. Didn't budge. The engine has been sitting open to the elements for quite some time.

 

[krazykuda]

I've already got one 360 and another one on the way to be a 408. I don't need the 318. I've pulled the plugs and soaked all the cylinders with penetrating oil. Then let it sit over night. I got the largest beaker bar I could find and attempted to turn it over. Didn't budge. The engine has been sitting open to the elements for quite some time.

Pull the heads and try to break each piston loose with a piece of wood and a hammer to try not to break the pistons... Soak it in marvel mystery oil, or kerosene and trans fluid mixed for a while...

 

[Sedanman]

The small parts are worth something

 

[whitepunkonnitro]

Thanks Tony.
Want to buy a 318 that has 80/45 psi but smokes a little?

I'm good on that..I think I already have a few of those laying around.
But tell ya what, they all sell, piece by piece, nut by bolt.

 

[72bluNblu]

I've already got one 360 and another one on the way to be a 408. I don't need the 318. I've pulled the plugs and soaked all the cylinders with penetrating oil. Then let it sit over night. I got the largest beaker bar I could find and attempted to turn it over. Didn't budge. The engine has been sitting open to the elements for quite some time.

Sounds like a boat anchor then. If you were trying to keep the car numbers matching it might be worth more work, but since you're replacing it anyway it probably isn't worth it. I'd pull the oil pan, timing cover and maybe a few other small parts and scrap the rest.

 

[TrailBeast]

I'm good on that..I think I already have a few of those laying around.
But tell ya what, they all sell, piece by piece, nut by bolt.

I'll bet you do, and I'll keep that in mind.
Thanks

 

[Evan Dutch]

Yeah. I'll see if anyone wants it when I pull it. If not oh well.

 

[Killer6]

I picked up a '90 parts Dak for my '87, 2wd long bed,V6. It has the A500 & TBI, mine is A998 & carbed. The motor was frozen, and it took about 1 month to get that eng free,
but soaking and patience works. Now I don't have to pull the converter w/the engine ! Hey, like Tony said, even piece by piece it's worth something to someone. Even just a
good crank core & the heads etc. can be of value so..............

 

[stroked340]

They make excellent "boat anchors"...

 

[dibbons]

Last year I went on a 3,000 road trip in the original 318 that had froze up due to some water intrusion. Just pulled off the heads, oiled up the cylinders, and eventually it broke free. Changed the gaskets and timing chain and it fired right up. Just a little smoke discharge for about a second when it starts up cold, but has good compression and a very steady idle. You can hear it run on my youtube page (with purple horny mufflers):
1972 Plymouth Satellite Sebring Plus - - Yahoo Video Search Results

 

[318willrun]

It's an extra high compression 318 that came in dump trucks. Can't turn them by hand or breaker bar, too much compression

 

[brian6pac]

I have freed up rusted cyls, with the heads off spray down cyls w/wd40 for a couple days to soak and sand around the bore w 220 lightly and wipe out w/clean rag. Don't try to do it all in one shot, spray them down again and sand repeat till all the rust is gone. Then start turning it back and forth if there is more rust clean then spray again. I have actually saved 2 motors this way, if you just get it spinning without cleaning the rust it will gouge the rings, pistons & walls.

 

[Evan Dutch]

Also, is there any reason I shouldn't be able to remove the 904 if the motor is locked?

 

[318willrun]

Also, is there any reason I shouldn't be able to remove the 904 if the motor is locked?

You mean if the motor is locked the bell housing bolts won't come loose? I think I misunderstood you, because that sounds silly.

 

[Evan Dutch]

You mean if the motor is locked the bell housing bolts won't come loose? I think I misunderstood you, because that sounds silly.

Lol no, that's all it takes to remove it? I don't have to mess with the convertor or flex plate or anything?

 

[brian6pac]

Unbolt the trans and pull, the convertor will stay with the motor. then you can get a wrench on the bolts and remove the convertor. sounds easy doesn't it!

 

[BlueDream]

If you scrap it, you'll probably be scrapping lots of usable parts. Chances are if you tore the motor down you could pick some good stuff from it to use on future engines. Or sell the parts to help pay for a new motor.

 

[Evan Dutch]

Unbolt the trans and pull, the convertor will stay with the motor. then you can get a wrench on the bolts and remove the convertor. sounds easy doesn't it!

Wow it sure does!!