Engine not turning over after overheating?

Birdie2000

Club Member
What would cause an engine to not turn over after overheating? Looking at a car with this problem, wondering what would be necessary to get engine running again, or what would likely need to be done if it needs to be rebuilt in some way.
 
BAd Dad said:
Is it seized? Hydrolocked?
Try removing the plugs and turning over.
Whatcha working on?
Kevin

Don't know. Not working on it yet, thinking about buying a car with a bummed engine at a good price. This is all I know at this point: guy tried to limp it home to work on it, and it shut down on him and now it "won't turn over". Trying to decide if I should just plan on a junkyard engine or if there won't be too many parts damaged.
 
BAd Dad said:
Is it seized? Hydrolocked?
Try removing the plugs and turning over.
Whatcha working on?
Kevin
I agree overheating seizes pistons/cracks cyl heads -hydrolocks remove plugs use breaker bar on crank pulley to elminate electrical. Tom :peelout:
 
Yes, I do, lol, but I don't know what context the seller means it in so it could even be electrical for all I know, but that seems unlikely. I don't really want to send the guy prodding and he finds out it's something simple and decides to keep it or raise the price. :)
 
BAd Dad said:
A very good point


I can't tell ya how many times I have heard: "It won't turn over" and I go out there and it cranks like normal, everything is fine except the gas tank is on E. I say "No wonder it won't turn over, yer outta gas, ma'am!"


:lol:

BIRDIE: If it is truly seized, I have another LT-1 from a Firehawk on a stand, supposed to have about 2500 miles on it, very clean. Gimme a PM. Ah, and check the opti if it cranks but no fire, but you probably know that... ;)
 
Last edited:
Ive heard of cars overheating, and then not turning over due to a crank sensor malfunction.

You've got another problem thats making it overheat, but the restarting problem could be like ones ive dealt with before. Weird I know, but...

Thats just my 2 cents
 
Most likely the engine will crank but won;t fire. being a 97lt1 I have 2 imediate assumptions about this scenario.

1 it has a coolant leak. Most likely the water pump.
2 if the water pump has failed most likely the Optispark "distributor located behind water pump" has been steamed and boiled and has now failed.

I would bet it cranks but will not fire. If the car is really clean and you can get is super cheap like $1500 i would say go fo it and even if it needs a motor do it up with a 383 stroker or something.

Sean
 
I've got another water pump and opti just sitting around, so I'm good in that department.

I'm not getting it quite that super cheap, but it's very clean (interior is practically brand new) and the few mods done to it are ones I would have done anyways, and are hot-ticket items. Even if I have to put another (stock-ish) engine in it, it'll still be way cheaper than buying a car that's equally (actually less in most cases) clean and meets all my criteria.
 
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