M20 seized?

[paperplane94]

I vote timing belt...

Piston><valve=no bueno

when you try starting it, remove the oil filler cap and look for any cam movement.

If you want to turn it over more easily, pull out the park plugs.

:) I meant spark plugs, I didn't edit this post to show that I'm human.

[quikveedb2]

You know what can cause a motor to seize?

A leaky headgasket filling the cylinder with coolant while it's sitting.. Pull the spark plugs and then try to crank with the starter, wrench, or ratchet.

Make sure you don't do it inside their garage though. They tend to get angry.

Also, disconnect the coil. I've shot gas out of a cylinder with an the spark plug pulled out, had it catch fire as it passed by a close-by plug wire that arced to something, and caught the ceiling of my buddy's garage on fire. Then we stood there for a minute thinking about what his insurance would cover, and decided to put it out. Then we had a beer and laughed. but seriously, disconnect the coil if you turn the motor with the plugs out.

[paperplane94]

Also, disconnect the coil. I've shot gas out of a cylinder with an the spark plug pulled out, had it catch fire as it passed by a close-by plug wire that arced to something, and caught the ceiling of my buddy's garage on fire. Then we stood there for a minute thinking about what his insurance would cover, and decided to put it out. Then we had a beer and laughed. but seriously, disconnect the coil if you turn the motor with the plugs out.

good safety advice^^^

[TobyB]

it would try and start wouldn't it?

Yes, and fail... a broken timing belt usually leaves you with a spinning lump
that isn't really an engine anymore.

Wrench it surreptitiously- if it turns, make a groaning noise, say
"damn, it's those weak main bearings again"
and buy it.

t

[BrassDrummer]

A broken timing belt will still turn the engine. It will be rough, and noisy, and sound like shit, but it will crank over. These blocks are bullet proof if they're taken care of. It's the heads and timing belts that usually get neglected. I'm guessing It's a mix of the two. Timing belt broke, Piston hit some valves and cracked the head. The owner stopped the engine, Coolant/oil leaked into the cylinders, and he tried to start it.

At most you're looking at an engine to get it running. At the least, you're looking at a cylinder head, head gasket, timing belt and the normal maintenance stuff. (Hoses, belts, sensors, plugs, wires etc.)