Seized engine?

[Zelph]

Hi guys.
After a $1800 tow bill got my truck home I want to start a diagnosis.
1989 K5 with stock 350 TBI /700R4 ( my dad says the engine isn’t original, but a “target replacement”?)
Oil is full, coolant level is full.
oil and filter changed prior to trip.

Driving approximately 65 mph in overdrive 3.73 31” tires
i heard a ticking sound that I thought was an exhaust leak. The noise quickly became a louder more metallic sound. The engine stopped, lost all power.
attempted to restart and it acts like the batter is dead. New battery and jumpstart do nothing. I can hear the starter motor engage. Removed the flex plate cover and can visually see the starter motor engage the flexplate but won’t spin.
I pulled all the plugs and tried spinning the motor with an 18” breaker bar on the crank pulley and I cannot move it.
Is my next step to drop the oil pan? Or am I just looking at getting a rebuild?

 

[CalSgt]

If it's locked up that tight I'd start planing on rebuild or replacement.

Does it have any water in it? Is there any oil in it? Did it overheat right before it seized?

Did you take a good look at the block to make sure it doesn't have a connecting rod sticking out the side?

Drain the oil into a clean pan to see if it looks like a glitter bomb went off in there, or if the oil has transformed into the forbidden chocolate milk.

It doesn't cost anything to drop the pan and look but I would be prepared for the worst if I were you.

 

[SirRobyn0]

Ya, if you can't turn it with an 18" breaker with the plug out something serious went south in the engine. You can pull the pan but what you do or don't see is likely going to be academic. Draining the oil to see what it looks like could be informative with less work than a pan drop. Like Casey said I'd be planning on a rebuild.

 

[85 Squarebody76]

I would look for a GM long block crate motor If I were you.... never had much faith in Target motors myself.. IMO..

 

[Zelph]

Did not overheat.
oil psi was just over 30 mark on the gauge.
I will drain the oil in the next couple days and report back with pics.
thanks guys.

 

[Matt69olds]

Pull the oil filter, use some tin snips to cut it open. If it’s full of metal, there is no point in doing any diagnostic work with the engine in the truck.

 

[dvdswan]

Pull the oil filter, use some tin snips to cut it open. If it’s full of metal, there is no point in doing any diagnostic work with the engine in the truck.

You can also drain the oil from the pan and check for metal.

Several things can keep an engine from rotating. accessory drive items can do this on old v-belt vehicles but with an 18" breaker bar you should be able to rotate it. check for a seized w/p, alt, ps pump too. one can hope.

 

[Bennyt]

Pull the oil filter, use some tin snips to cut it open. If it’s full of metal, there is no point in doing any diagnostic work with the engine in the truck.

The ticking makes me think its seized and you are going to find valvetrain material in the filter, but Id also look for any other obvious issue. About 20 years ago, a friend of mine's Mitsubishi Eclipse started making a loud sound and wouldn't start. It was towed in to dealer and they said the motor was seized. It sat at dealer for 3-6 months as he refused to pay for new engine and they wouldn't warranty it as oil was very dirty and he was very bad on oil changes if ever. Finally, I told him to tow it to to my place and I'd take a look and confirm and help him with installing a rebuilt. I pulled the starter and found a piece of the starter nose casting had broken off and fell down locking the flywheel. I removed the piece, reinstalled the starter, changed oil/ filter/ and battery and he drove his car to dealer and they replaced his starter under warranty and reimbursed him for towing costs plus some minor compensation for 6 mos loss of use. We of course took pictures, had a legal letter drawn up, etc as well.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Maybe something let loose in the transmission? Whatever it is, you'll probably be better off with a whole replacement instead of trying to rebuild.

 

[Zelph]

You can also drain the oil from the pan and check for metal.

Several things can keep an engine from rotating. accessory drive items can do this on old v-belt vehicles but with an 18" breaker bar you should be able to rotate it. check for a seized w/p, alt, ps pump too. one can hope.

I’ll pull the belt and see if the engine spins. That would be a dream outcome to have an accessory locked up instead of the engine.

 

[Zelph]

Here’s the plugs as pulled. First two pics are odd cylinders and last 2 pics are even cylinders.

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[Zelph]

I’ll get to the oil drain and filter tomorrow. I’ll get some pics of that as well.

 

[Camar068]

Hi guys.
After a $1800 tow bill got my truck home I want to start a diagnosis.
1989 K5 with stock 350 TBI /700R4 ( my dad says the engine isn’t original, but a “target replacement”?)
Oil is full, coolant level is full.
oil and filter changed prior to trip.

Driving approximately 65 mph in overdrive 3.73 31” tires
i heard a ticking sound that I thought was an exhaust leak. The noise quickly became a louder more metallic sound. The engine stopped, lost all power.
attempted to restart and it acts like the batter is dead. New battery and jumpstart do nothing. I can hear the starter motor engage. Removed the flex plate cover and can visually see the starter motor engage the flexplate but won’t spin.
I pulled all the plugs and tried spinning the motor with an 18” breaker bar on the crank pulley and I cannot move it.
Is my next step to drop the oil pan? Or am I just looking at getting a rebuild?

rebuild.....just went through this on mine. Spun a main bearing.

 

[rusted nuts]

The ticking makes me think its seized and you are going to find valvetrain material in the filter, but Id also look for any other obvious issue. About 20 years ago, a friend of mine's Mitsubishi Eclipse started making a loud sound and wouldn't start. It was towed in to dealer and they said the motor was seized. It sat at dealer for 3-6 months as he refused to pay for new engine and they wouldn't warranty it as oil was very dirty and he was very bad on oil changes if ever. Finally, I told him to tow it to to my place and I'd take a look and confirm and help him with installing a rebuilt. I pulled the starter and found a piece of the starter nose casting had broken off and fell down locking the flywheel. I removed the piece, reinstalled the starter, changed oil/ filter/ and battery and he drove his car to dealer and they replaced his starter under warranty and reimbursed him for towing costs plus some minor compensation for 6 mos loss of use. We of course took pictures, had a legal letter drawn up, etc as well.

OHHH, I bet that dealer was pissed.

 

[Zelph]

Got the oil drained out. There was definitely of goldish tint to some of it. Might be hard to see in the pics.

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