Stuck block two questions
 

I’m trying to strip down a stuck 221cu in block.

1. I can’t get the 9/16 socket to get onto the connecting rod nuts, is there a special socket, wrench for the job.

2. I need to bust out the pistons but I don’t want to hurt the rods, any particular tool or punch, chisel size I should use or procedure.

Thanks

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

Take a hole saw and cut a big hole in the top of the pistons. Then break the rest of the piston and the rod should move.

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

Be very careful with the pistons, it is easy to crack a cylinder wall. Need to start by drill out as much of the center of the piston as possible.

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

If it's a good quality socket, just grind it down. Jack E/NJ

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

Check some of my videos. I've shown piston removal. Learn from my mistakes and don't do it like I did it. I cracked a cylinder.

You will need to grind a socket down. If the motor is stuck, you might need to also grind various wrenches to get onto those nuts.

How not to remove pistons. https://youtu.be/SlYZGlONTYs

How to remove a crank from a stuck motor: https://youtu.be/b-dPIVcy1sM

Re the pistons. My mistake was to try and remove one that still had the full circumference of the crown in place. All the others had at least a part of the circumference missing and came out ok.

Mart.

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

Duplicate.

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

There are 1/4" drive swivel sockets made . We used them in Aircraft work- Snap-on ?? Newc

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

Rods are cheap, last one I had to do I torched a few of the rods so I could get the crank out and concentrate on saving the block. I'll sell you a set of 221 rods for $50 if you need them.

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

Like yoyodyne I have boxes of rods. I sometimes not only cut the rods with a torch but drill the top of pistons with hole saw. And don't forget to set the whole thing on fire with a circular wick in the cylinders floating in brake fluid, mmo, paint thinner, diesel and other vaguely flammable liquids. Not gasoline ever!

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

Take it down to a machine shop and have it hot tanked.

It will eat the pistons and give you a clean engine to work with.

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

Chuck the motor into a drum of water and let it soak for 4 to 6 weeks, then take it out the water and use a suitable piece of wood as a drift and tap the pistons up and down the bores. If they still wont come out, soak another week or two. I have stripped many motors and gearboxes this way.
water caused the rust and water will penetrate and dissolve it better than any penetrating oils,
believe me it works.

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

Regarding the socket, grind one down, as posted by Jack and Mart, Posts 4 and 5.
Back in the day, it was possible to BUY a socket for this job.
Regarding cracked/broken cylinders... I've been there/done that. Pay attention to Mart (or others that caution you).

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

all I can add is back as a teen block in a 55 gal drum with water and lit a fire not long
water started bubbling and I kept stoking the fire. My father poured something in the
boiling water I suspect lye but I didn't ask that did the trick and block came out super
clean.

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

I like that socket, stamped "Not guaranteed" right on it.

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

This is not the first time that I've heard this, but it is kind of hard to believe. Can anyone explain the chemistry and physics behind why this may work? Rust is iron oxide which is basically iron and oxigen. It is my understanding that because of their atomic properties, iron and the oxygen in water have a real affinity for each other, which is why rust is such a universal problem.

How can this work. much less not cause further rusting?

"big job" - I'd sure like to know what it was your father threw in the drum of boiling water!

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

Probably Washing Soda - Sodium Carbonate. I do the same, but I don't boil it, I use a bucket heater from tractor Supply. I think I've posted a photo here of how well it works. Cleans that old black flathead gunk right off. I use TASC, it's washing soda mixed with surfactants and detergents and etc, but you can use straight washing soda to good effect.

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

I'll bet it was washing soda I didn't think of that back then.

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

I found the photo. I mixed some in the trash can with hot water from the water heater to try it out. Was a small heater, I ran out of hot water pretty quickly so it wasn't real hot. Dropped this pan in from my 36 and left it overnight. It cooled off pretty quickly so it wasn't hot very long. The crud on the outside was too hard to scrape with a gasket scraper, the inside was like every other old flathead pan, nasty. The next day I pulled it out like this, you can see where the water line was, I didn't wipe, I didn't rinse, this is how it came out of the mixture. I was so shocked I had to take this photo.


Next I filled a poly barrel and dropped a bucket heater in and dumped just about everything in the wasn't clean. We called it the magic barrel, it was awesome to just drop parts in and come back to get clean parts. Only negative is that cast iron comes out with a light brown rust patina because of the high PH of the sodium carbonate, but at least it's clean and ready to go into the Evaporust.

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

Magic, pure magic..... So, it isn't baking soda. Where does one buy 'washing soda' ?

Re: Stuck block two questions
 

The chemical name for Lye, is Sodium Hydroxide and is the active ingredient in "Hot Tank" solution. In my mechanic days, I used a hot tank often. It takes everything off and eats aluminum. It does not hurt cast iron or steel and works, over night. The only thing you need to do, after taking it out, is wash with clear water, blow it off with air and oil it, if your not going to use it in a short time. You need to wear rubber gloves and wear safety glasses when putting block in or taking it out. Your block will look like it would when you bring it home from the machine shop.

Soda Ash or Sodium Carbonate is a cleaner and stain remover. Safer to use but, won't clean, anything like a heated, or even cold, Sodium Hydroxide solution.