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.

[sixnotfour]

Type4sale

[Spoke]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

The heads should come off ok. Just make sure all bolts are removed.

If you're interested in rebuilding the engine I wouldn't try to spin the flywheel with a bar.

BTW, if the heads are still on, how did you tap the pistons? Or did you mean cylinders?

[914werke]

Is this a Rochester car?

[930cabman]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

These engines often get "stored" outside where the elements get inside and make a mess. I have worked on this condition before, it's possible little or nothing is save able.

[914werke]

Depending on where in the PNW you are I can help with either a core mtr or another resource that may be closer to you. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

[Nogoodwithusernames]

Do you have all (8x) nuts off the studs? 8x per side and the heads should come off, might need a block of wood and a hammer, try not to hit where the fins are so you don't bent or break them.

[trojanhorsepower]

Welcome. I recently got cylinders on a 1.7 loose with PB Blaster. I soaked the cylinders for a few days, but getting the cylinders hot with a map gas torch is what made the difference. One good heat cycle per cylinder and I was able to free the jugs. Disclaimer: I had the heads off, so I was working 1 jug at a time.
I agree with the others the heads should come off ok unless you forgot a fastener.

Good luck

Peter

[alungershausen]

Do you have all (8x) nuts off the studs? 8x per side and the heads should come off, might need a block of wood and a hammer, try not to hit where the fins are so you don't bent or break them.

Heads are off, forgot to mention that. Thanks

[alungershausen]

Welcome. I recently got cylinders on a 1.7 loose with PB Blaster. I soaked the cylinders for a few days, but getting the cylinders hot with a map gas torch is what made the difference. One good heat cycle per cylinder and I was able to free the jugs. Disclaimer: I had the heads off, so I was working 1 jug at a time.
I agree with the others the heads should come off ok unless you forgot a fastener.

Good luck

Peter

Thanks Peter, I will get a torch and heat the cylinders. I have been using a heat gun, but that is probably not enough heat.

[alungershausen]

Do you have all (8x) nuts off the studs? 8x per side and the heads should come off, might need a block of wood and a hammer, try not to hit where the fins are so you don't bent or break them.

The cylinder heads are off and the studs are free. It is just the cylinders that I don't seem to be able to get out of the case.

[alungershausen]

Is this a Rochester car?

As far as I know it was on the Oregon coast in 2008 and before that in California. I have not yet done a full Vin# history though

[alungershausen]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

The heads should come off ok. Just make sure all bolts are removed.

If you're interested in rebuilding the engine I wouldn't try to spin the flywheel with a bar.

BTW, if the heads are still on, how did you tap the pistons? Or did you mean cylinders?

Heads are off, sorry forgot to mention that. Tapping cylinders from the outside and trying to gently tap the pistons with a rubber mallet. No movement though. Will stay away from messing with the flywheel, thank you.

[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.

[Aayala]

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.

Very similar situation with the one I had recently. I had only one cylinder that would not come off. I placed it in this exact position and poured Mystery Oil and left it sit for 24-48 hours around that time. applied some heat after removing all the mystery oil (almost none made it through the rings) and kept tapping with a rubber/wood mallet. eventually came loose. The piston rings had rusted to the cylinder head in my case so the only way to get it off was that. if you have more than one cylinder rusted I can imagine that would be very hard to break the rust off the rings if one moves but the other doesnt. My case was only one so after i broke that free it came apart. Good luck mate.

[Nogoodwithusernames]

For hitting the pistons shape a piece of 2x4 or 4x4 to fit inside the jug and give that a whack with a real hammer. I don't think a rubber mallet won't give enough shocking force.

Good advice regarding the torch as well, try to heat up the OD of the cylinders approximately where the rings are, that is probably what is seized to the cylinder as both are steel and can rust together.

Good luck!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

The heads should come off ok. Just make sure all bolts are removed.

If you're interested in rebuilding the engine I wouldn't try to spin the flywheel with a bar.

BTW, if the heads are still on, how did you tap the pistons? Or did you mean cylinders?

Heads are off, sorry forgot to mention that. Tapping cylinders from the outside and trying to gently tap the pistons with a rubber mallet. No movement though. Will stay away from messing with the flywheel, thank you.

[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.

Very similar situation with the one I had recently. I had only one cylinder that would not come off. I placed it in this exact position and poured Mystery Oil and left it sit for 24-48 hours around that time. applied some heat after removing all the mystery oil (almost none made it through the rings) and kept tapping with a rubber/wood mallet. eventually came loose. The piston rings had rusted to the cylinder head in my case so the only way to get it off was that. if you have more than one cylinder rusted I can imagine that would be very hard to break the rust off the rings if one moves but the other doesnt. My case was only one so after i broke that free it came apart. Good luck mate.

Thanks, I will try that. Will also add some heat and get a wooden mallet. I will also now focus on one cylinder at a time.

[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.

[fixer34]

I tend to agree with just destroying the pistons so you can get the barrels off and then split the case to see there is anything to salvage.

If you still want to try to free things up, keep in mind that pounding on a piston to try moving it inward also means the crank is trying to pull the opposite piston inward. Since there is not much leverage and no 'shock' it probably isn't going to move. You need to heat/hammer both opposite barrels. The other 2 will be trying to push outward, so the barrels should separate from the case pretty easily.

[brant]

chances are that pistons and cylinders are scrap due to rust pits

best you can do is not damage crank, case, and rods which may or may not be salvageable