Started on my '52 today. When I pulled the drain plug on the c-case 2 1/2 gallons of water came out before any oil started to drain.

Then I pulled the drain plug from the transmission and guess what? I got a gallon of water there and no oil!

Can't wait to see the inside of the engine.

 

That wouldn`t make my day, sorry to hear it.

 

YIKES! Something important to remember though. Water is bad stuff. But when a truck has been sitting and it gets water in it, hopefully it hasn't been circulated through the metal parts, with oil floating on top it's somewaht seeled in. But, now that you are opening stuff up, remember that the place there was once water there is now air and it will rust FAST. Get in and get everything dry or clean fast. You'll be amazed at what you can save.

 

I would probably seal everything back up and run some oil through the galleries while hand turning the crank (if you can). This might prevent some of the rust from setting in.

 

Presumably that engine has been setting outside and that water has been freezing. Good chance something (like the water jackets) is broken inside. Trying to turn it could just be the last straw for this poor engine.

This is exactly why it is a bad practice to try to get engines running after laying around for years with just a can of ether and a fresh battery!!!

 

In thinking about it, when I drained the radiator it had good looking green coolant in it. But the water from the trans and engine was clear water??????????? This thing must have been in a flood. There is evidence of silt inside the frame rails also.

Am going to pull the engine and trans today. That will tell me more.

 

When I rebuilt my tranny, James at JobLot told me the biggest problems they ran into was a tranny sitting with water in it. Often, everything above the "water line" was in good shape, but everything below was rusted beyond use. Sometime, totally gone! That the water was clear is a good sign - if it was rust-colored, it probably was sitting for a LONG time, but being clear, it might have been real recent. I know that when I got my truck, the PO had it sitting out in the yard with a for sale sign, without a front windshield. The water had gotten to the dash, so the bezels, ashtray, etc, were totally junk. In comparison to the rest of the truck, didn't fit in.

I see you are in Bakersfield - if I recall, the freezing isn't in the picture - that's good, if the case! Of course, with the drought out there, I'm sure you saved the water for other uses...

Good luck, hopefully, the PO you got it from JUST put it out, where the water came in, and no real damage is done. Keep us posted!!!

Oh yeah, how old does the "silt" look? Recent? Or ages ago? That can be a tell-tale sign.

R

 

I bought a 54 Chevy like that. The owner had no clue what he was into. His son wanted to fix the car and he sold it to me. It had a newer engine in it and at some point must have been outside.
I pulled the engine and had it in the air and took the drain plug out and it must have had about three gallons of water in it plus the oil.
When I saw the oil turn to clear water it blew me away because the engine was so clean. It was rebuilt by the guy who he had bought it from but he didnt have any idea how to finish the car.

 

This is really important!!!!!!

Your water problem may be very recent and it hadn't had enough time to start to cause rust. Also, evertyhing may have had a good coating of oil on it when the water got in or the oil sealed in the water keeping it from getting to air.

BUT now you have changed that and you need to be sure to get all the water out of it ASAP or it will start to rust stuff. You may open it up and find no rust at all but be sure to get into it soon - Days not weeks!

 

Was it parked in the bottom of a lake? 21/2 gallons in the engine and 1 gallon from the transmission seems to be an awful lot from just condensation. Good luck.

 

20 years of snow and rain will make my 8BA interesting. Age and Mother Nature can be very cruel. Kinda like the snow we're getting right now. Have to take it for what it is: A project.

 

70 degrees here in Indiana! Nyah, Nyah!!!

I think winter's back is broken, at least I hope so!

R

 

You know...you would think if water had gotten to it recently that you would see some sort of water line on the exterior of the truck?
The truck in your gallery pics looks clean???
If it was in a flood with silt you might see silt built up in other places as well.
Could it be the P.O. filled the radiator before sale and the head gasket had rusted out and let fresh water flow down into the engine and trans (thru main seal area)?
just a thought.
post some pics of the tear down....you got my curiousity going....
Ed

 

Oh man ain't that the truth! With trucks too !

 

Hey Roger. Nyah Nyah yourself! 70 degrees in San Diego EVERY DAY - don't get cocky (tee hee)!