'77 233hp 351 Ford won't turn

[autogun]

Hi guys, haven't used my '77, 22' Silverline 233hp since around '05 and decided to list it for sale. So I tried to roll it over and it won't turn, can't turn it with a breaker bar either. Here's the history...blew the out drive back in '05, it sat till '07 when I installed a Brand new outdrive (upper & lower) and a reman starter. When I tried to start it, I discovered that the steering cable had seized up. I then got too busy working out of town and never got back to it. It did roll over with the reman starter in '07. Can the engine seize just sitting there? Could it 'over rev' when the drive blew? Is there something else (gimbal bearing?) that could seize and not let the engine turn? I know I've had engines setting around for over twenty years and never seized up. I will probably just try to sell it 'as is ' and 'not running', but any suggestions would be appreciated...

 

[Bondo]

Re: '77 233hp 351 Ford won't turn

Hi guys, haven't used my '77, 22' Silverline 233hp since around '05 and decided to list it for sale. So I tried to roll it over and it won't turn, can't turn it with a breaker bar either. Here's the history...blew the out drive back in '05, it sat till '07 when I installed a Brand new outdrive (upper & lower) and a reman starter. When I tried to start it, I discovered that the steering cable had seized up. I then got too busy working out of town and never got back to it. It did roll over with the reman starter in '07. Can the engine seize just sitting there? Could it 'over rev' when the drive blew? Is there something else (gimbal bearing?) that could seize and not let the engine turn? I know I've had engines setting around for over twenty years and never seized up. I will probably just try to sell it 'as is ' and 'not running', but any suggestions would be appreciated...

Ayuh,... 'n Yes....

Pull the drive to see if it's the motor or drive...

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: '77 233hp 351 Ford won't turn

So many variables, lol. Like Bondo said, pull the drive and find out which one is seized. Engines don't generally seize by sitting, but if water intrusion/moisture gets to the pistons/bearings, then corrosion begins to act on the metal surfaces. My 351w had water get in either via the intake or through an open exhaust valve undetected. The engine sat for a year or so while I rebuilt the transom. I reinstalled the 351w, turned the key, and: nothing. Took the starter to the rebuild shop, reinstalled it and: nothing. Tried turning it over by hand, but it never turned at all, even with a 24" breaker bar. Tore down the engine and had to hammer out 2 of the 8 pistons which had rusted to the cylinder wall.

 

[autogun]

Re: '77 233hp 351 Ford won't turn

Well I was afraid of that...I have pulled the spark plugs and sprayed PB Blaster in all the cylinders...The reason I'm selling is I'm tired of working on it...so I can't see myself going too far on this... Plus I'm getting back into the old outboards. If one goes down, I can just swap out motors and keep going, and work on it when I get time...Thanks for the suggestions