How do you free up a seized 5.7L hemi?

 

It depends on why it seized up. If you ran it out of oil or overheated it, take it apart and rebuild it. You can TRY pulling all the spark plugs and spinning it in case one cylinder has water or too much fuel in it. I can't see one that new rusting inside and seizing that way.

 

Originally thought it was because of hydraulic locking. Wife tried to start it after a heavy rain and boom, connecting rod went through the block. I have it tore down to the block but cannot rotate the engine to disconnect the flywheel. I removed the piston from the cylinder of the broken rod, removed the end cap from that rod and still wont turn. I've got the rest of the pistons freed up (I think) but am now suspecting that the crank might be seized in the journals. I am seeing evidence of overheating and have heard these engines can have lubrication issues. Only thing I can think of would be to cut the bottom of the oil pan off and disconnect the rest of the end caps.

 

If a rod went through the block, you have scrap metal. It's not rebuildable. I haven't worked on a 5.7 but the 4.7 in my truck had a clogged oil pickup and I dropped the oil pan with no trouble. Unless there is a major design change from older vehicles, you can remove the engine with the torque converter attached and remove it outside the vehicle. Personally, with this type of problem, I'd pull the engine and transmission as a unit out the front.

How is the rest of the truck? Is it worth another engine? If you can find a decent used engine, that would be what I'd swap in. I'm afraid your old engine isn't any good towards the core charge, you'll have to eat that. If the truck is low mileage and you really, really like it, get a rebuilt engine (not really much more than a used one anyway) and have a shop check the transmission over too. Put them back in and you've got a nearly new truck.

 

I knew it was scrap. Already looking into new engine. Cannot drop oil pan due to front axle being in the way. I was trying to avoid removing the transmission but if I do pull them out as a unit, I would still have the problem of disconnecting the transmission. Not to mention that it's hooked up to a transfer case. The truck is still nice and worth saving. Think I might try cutting holes in the oil pan to access the connecting rod and crankshaft end caps. Any idea how much the engine and transmission would weigh together?

 

6 to 8 hundred pounds. Not light.

Don't try and dismember it in place. That will be an exercise in frustration. pull the engine, with the trans if you have to.

 

If you pull the drivetrain as a unit, you can unbolt the engine from the transmission. Slide it away gently and the torque converter will come with it. Be gentle and before you replace the drivetrain, replace the front seal on the transmission. If you don't and it leaks later, you have several hours aggravation for a $20-30 part.