Just a curious question
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From: S. Mississippi
Just a curious question
I found an 85 F-150 with a 300 auto in it. The truck did go under water (fresh water, not much better, but not as bad as salt) during hurricane Katrina. All is not bad though as the motor still turns over, albeit slowly and the starter sounds rather sickly. I couldn't get any compression values, because i didn't have my gauge, nor did i get it to start and actually run, but it did sputter a little when i dumped fresh gas down the carb.
Would this truck be worth getting if i could get the engine started? The guy is only wanting $200 for the whole thing, and i don't need the truck, all i need is the engine. I wouldn't even need that if mine weren't slobbering oil all over the engine bay.
Input is appreciated ya'll.
Would this truck be worth getting if i could get the engine started? The guy is only wanting $200 for the whole thing, and i don't need the truck, all i need is the engine. I wouldn't even need that if mine weren't slobbering oil all over the engine bay.
Input is appreciated ya'll.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Duncan,OK
The electronics will be trashed and you'll have to clean up the distributor and the carb.
Pull the plugs first and make sure there is no water in the cylinders if you dont there is a good chance you'll break a piston.
We use to rebuild flood cars if you can get to them quickly enough after they have been pulled out of the water the engines are usually ok.
Getting water out and relubing everything is critical. The less time they sit with moisture in them the better. It doesn't take long for rust and corosion to start.
We found that on a lot of flood vehicles it isn't the water but the silt that plays havoc with mechanical parts. I've seen exhausts and cylinders packed with silt and sand. How long was the truck submerged and what kind of care did they give it after they pulled it out?
Pat
Pull the plugs first and make sure there is no water in the cylinders if you dont there is a good chance you'll break a piston.
We use to rebuild flood cars if you can get to them quickly enough after they have been pulled out of the water the engines are usually ok.
Getting water out and relubing everything is critical. The less time they sit with moisture in them the better. It doesn't take long for rust and corosion to start.
We found that on a lot of flood vehicles it isn't the water but the silt that plays havoc with mechanical parts. I've seen exhausts and cylinders packed with silt and sand. How long was the truck submerged and what kind of care did they give it after they pulled it out?
Pat
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Even if there is no water in the cylinders, the starter motor might have been under water. If that's the case, it may turn slowly because it's rusted up inside.
Use starting fluid instead of dumping gas down the carb so you don't foul the plugs and complicate matters further.
Pull the oil drain plug out just briefly to see if there is water in the crankcase. If you see any sign of water, go ahead and change the oil and filter and plan on doing it again after you get her going and it has gone through a heat up and cool down a couple of times.
Use starting fluid instead of dumping gas down the carb so you don't foul the plugs and complicate matters further.
Pull the oil drain plug out just briefly to see if there is water in the crankcase. If you see any sign of water, go ahead and change the oil and filter and plan on doing it again after you get her going and it has gone through a heat up and cool down a couple of times.
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From: S. Mississippi
The motor was started immediately after the storm. And aside from the motor turning over slowly due to the starter, it turned over well. I'm going to try and get back down there sometime this weekend or coming week and fool with it a bit more. For $200, all i need from it is the motor, and trans. The rest i'd probably end up trying to make a couple bucks off of. I've got one parts truck already that got ruined by katrina i have to get rid of, and at least the engine still turns over in the one i'm looking at now so it might be worth saving.
If it isn't, i'll start looking for a "dryer" suspect engine to replace the one in my truck now.
If it isn't, i'll start looking for a "dryer" suspect engine to replace the one in my truck now.
