 Seized engine, Cannot remove barrels from crank case |
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| alungershausen |
 Jan 19 2026, 09:59 PM
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#1
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Newbie  Group: Members Posts: 11 Joined: 18-October 25 Member No.: 29,037 Region Association: Pacific Northwest  |
Hi, first post ever. A friend at C&C told me to reach out. Heard this forum will help.
I bought a 1974 1.8 914 in March of 2025. It is now totally disassembled, and I am struggling with getting the engine taken apart. I cannot remove the cylinder heads, the flywheel does not turn, and the pistons do not move at all. In the last two months I tried, PB Blaster in the cylinders, also filled the case with it. I also filled the case with transmission oil and Marvel Mystery oil. Leaving it sitting for weeks on end, turning it every couple of days. I warmed up the engine with a heat gun, gently tapped the cylinder heads, also tapped the pistons. All with no success. It seems the cylinder heads are glued to the case, not one is moving. The former owner planned to replace the engine with a different one, but I am interested in bringing it back. When I drained the oil, I got about a quart of water (the car was in a field for 4 years) and a little bit of oil. Supposedly it ran 4 years ago. I am planning to attach a lever to the flywheel next, but I don't want to damage the crankshaft. I have not tried a torch yet, not sure if it will damage the case. I am also hearing different places, either the bottom of the cylinders or the case to be warmed up with the torch. The cylinder head insides are pretty rusted and will need to be replaced anyway, but I am hoping that the crank case is still ok. |
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| rick 918-S |
Jan 21 2026, 07:09 AM
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#2
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Hey nice rack! -Celette Group: Members Posts: 21,220 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Now in Superior WI Member No.: 43 Region Association: Northstar Region 
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I would just break the pistons and not worry about damaging the cylinders. There is no way you are reusing them anyway. Banging on the tops are banging the rods on the crank. Piston/cylinders are available new and the prices are no terrible.
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| Aayala |
Jan 21 2026, 01:24 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 59 Joined: 7-July 25 From: Austin Tx Member No.: 28,874 Region Association: South East States |
QUOTE(rick 918-S @ Jan 21 2026, 07:09 AM)  I would just break the pistons and not worry about damaging the cylinders. There is no way you are reusing them anyway. Banging on the tops are banging the rods on the crank. Piston/cylinders are available new and the prices are no terrible. For my information only... haha How exactly do you break the pistons if the case is assembled? Just was trying to visualize and got curious, not sure how that is possible. |
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| rick 918-S |
Jan 21 2026, 05:51 PM
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#4
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Hey nice rack! -Celette Group: Members Posts: 21,220 Joined: 30-December 02 From: Now in Superior WI Member No.: 43 Region Association: Northstar Region
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QUOTE(Aayala @ Jan 21 2026, 01:24 PM) QUOTE(rick 918-S @ Jan 21 2026, 07:09 AM) I would just break the pistons and not worry about damaging the cylinders. There is no way you are reusing them anyway. Banging on the tops are banging the rods on the crank. Piston/cylinders are available new and the prices are no terrible. For my information only... haha How exactly do you break the pistons if the case is assembled? Just was trying to visualize and got curious, not sure how that is possible. Break off the cooling fins and use a cut off wheel to cut a slit in the barrel. Use a chisel from the top to spread the barrel. |
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| rgalla9146 |
Jan 22 2026, 08:33 AM
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#5
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 4,943 Joined: 23-November 05 From: Paramus NJ Member No.: 5,176 Region Association: None
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QUOTE(rick 918-S @ Jan 21 2026, 06:51 PM) QUOTE(Aayala @ Jan 21 2026, 01:24 PM) QUOTE(rick 918-S @ Jan 21 2026, 07:09 AM) I would just break the pistons and not worry about damaging the cylinders. There is no way you are reusing them anyway. Banging on the tops are banging the rods on the crank. Piston/cylinders are available new and the prices are no terrible. For my information only... haha How exactly do you break the pistons if the case is assembled? Just was trying to visualize and got curious, not sure how that is possible. Break off the cooling fins and use a cut off wheel to cut a slit in the barrel. Use a chisel from the top to spread the barrel. I agree. But keep in mind that you can damage the barrel spigots on the case if you get too rough with this method. Fasten the barrels tight to the case during the cutting. A sawsall is another good cutter. Brutal stuff. |
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| friethmiller |
Jan 22 2026, 09:26 AM
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#6
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,184 Joined: 10-February 19 From: Austin, TX Member No.: 22,863 Region Association: Southwest Region
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QUOTE(rgalla9146 @ Jan 22 2026, 08:33 AM) I agree. But keep in mind that you can damage the barrel spigots on the case if you get too rough with this method. Fasten the barrels tight to the case during the cutting. A sawsall is another good cutter. Brutal stuff. I've done this before on an old 1.7 engine that was completely locked up. Included a pic. Keep in mind that once the cylinders are off you still need to remove the pistons to split the case. If I remember correctly, it was easier on the case to cut the pistons clear at the wrist pins. This looks horrible, I know, but I was able to save this "W" block and get it reconditioned for a rebuild. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)  |
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Posts in this topic
alungershausen Seized engine Jan 19 2026, 09:59 PM
sixnotfour Type4sale Jan 19 2026, 10:05 PM Spoke :wttc:
The heads should come off ok. Just make s... Jan 20 2026, 07:02 AM
alungershausen
:wttc:
The heads should come off ok. Just make ... Jan 20 2026, 02:45 PM Nogoodwithusernames For hitting the pistons shape a piece of 2x4 or 4x... Jan 20 2026, 03:16 PM 914werke Is this a Rochester car? Jan 20 2026, 12:18 PM alungershausen
Is this a Rochester car?
As far as I know it wa... Jan 20 2026, 02:41 PM 930cabman :wttc:
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Do you have all (8x) nuts off the studs? 8x per s... Jan 20 2026, 02:35 PM alungershausen
Do you have all (8x) nuts off the studs? 8x per s... Jan 20 2026, 02:39 PM trojanhorsepower Welcome. I recently got cylinders on a 1.7 loose ... Jan 20 2026, 02:24 PM alungershausen
Welcome. I recently got cylinders on a 1.7 loose... Jan 20 2026, 02:37 PM alungershausen
Hi, first post ever. A friend at C&C told me ... Jan 20 2026, 03:03 PM Aayala
Hi, first post ever. A friend at C&C told me... Jan 20 2026, 03:11 PM alungershausen
[quote name='alungershausen' post='3241663' date=... Jan 20 2026, 03:39 PM Aayala
[quote name='rgalla9146' post='3241844' date='Jan... Jan 22 2026, 12:51 PM fixer34 I tend to agree with just destroying the pistons s... Jan 21 2026, 11:59 AM brant chances are that pistons and cylinders are scrap d... Jan 21 2026, 01:01 PM porschetub In this case heat is essential to freeing up the s... Jan 21 2026, 03:05 PM |
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