Seized engine, Cannot remove barrels from crank case Options

[alungershausen]

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.

[rick 918-S]

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.

[Aayala]

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.

[rick 918-S]

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.

[rgalla9146]

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.

[friethmiller]

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)

[Aayala]

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 complete 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)

HOLY! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif) that looks pretty brutal! Thanks for sharing Fred! Glad you got to reuse the case, way to go! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)