I have a 1982 F250 351W that I've owned for about 14 years. It is parked outside and doesn't get used much. This truck is super low mileage (about 34K actual). The Fall of 2021 I tried to start it and it would not turn over. I started investigating and found water in the carb. Pulled spark plugs and found water in the cylinders. I pulled the carb and removed as much water from the cylinders as possible. Filled the cylinders with PB Blaster and other penetrating oils. Put a breaker bar on the crank bolt and could not budge it. I've tried numerous times to crank it over, but it's stuck. I have no idea how badly rusted the cylinder walls are, but I'm concerned that it might need to be bored.

I have not pulled the heads or dug deeper into the engine. Recently I spoke to a mechanic that does side jobs and he said that he would take on the job and free the engine for $2000 + parts. I do not know this mechanic and have never had work done by him. I'd like to do the work myself. I've played with engines off and on for most of my like, but have never pulled apart a V8 before. I have a lot of tools, but lacking specialty tools.

I guess I'm just asking for general advice on how to proceed. The truck is not super valuable, but I would definitely like to keep it and get it running again.

All inputs welcome. Thanks!!

 

Pick up one of those cheap inspection cameras. They have a flexible wand you can feed through a spark plug hole. Get a lighted version so you can see inside a dark place.

One type is a stand-alone unit with its own display screen. Maybe $75 at HF? The other style connects to a smartphone for display. Those are quite cheap on Amazon, etc. but am not sure if a lighted version is offered.

 

I would not spend money on a camera, you know the engine is junk. Has to come out and be rebuilt if it can be. Spend that money on a cherry picker to pull the engine

How did water get inside the carb ? Did water get into the oil pan ? Talk with a local machine shop, see what they can do for a rebuild.

https://www.google.com/search?q=351+windsor+F150+truck+engine&sxsrf=ALiCz sZLbAMty-71da6LjzqCT1q8NqS-NQ%3A1662830628267&ei=JMgcY4H3D7nNptQPyY-ZgAk&ved=0ahUKEwiBma3n3or6AhW5pokEHclHBpAQ4dUDCA4& oq=351+windsor+F150+truck+engine&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2 l6EAwyBwgAEB4QogQyBwgAEB4QogQyBQgAEKIEMgcIABAeEKIE MgcIABAeEKIEOgoIABBHENYEELADOg0IABBHENYEELADEMkDOg QIIxAnOggIABAeEAgQBzoFCAAQhgNKBAhBGABKBAhGGABQ2ApY NguEhoAXABeACAAVaIAeMDkgEBNpgBAKABAcgBCMABAQ&scl ient=gws-wiz

 

How did water get inside the carb? Yeah, that's a bit of a mystery. Some have said that if the cowl gasket/weather-strip is not present or deteriorated, then water can run into engine compartment and accumulate on top of the air cleaner and then into the carb. Seems hard to believe, but I have no other explanation.

 

They do it all the time. I ended up putting a large rubber washer under my wing nut on the aircleaner, and there would be pool of water up there each time it rained.

Go to Amazon and buy this book, It will help you through the whole process, from pulling the engine, rebuilding it, and putting it back in, distributor carb, the whole thing. Make sure you get this one by Tom Monroe, it's the one I have and is the good one.

 

Same book, less money. Not that I hate giving my money to someone, so he can build another rocket instead of paying his lower employees more. Sorry for the rant.


https://www.walmart.com/ip/How-to-Re...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

I sure wish I had known about this!!