I bought this vehicle not running, as is. But it was a steal! The alternator was missing and the starter fried, so I fixed that and tried to fire it up. It spun over kinda slowly, half-backfired, and shot the dipstick almost out of the tube. So, I'm thinking:
1. Frozen piston rings
2. Jumped timing
3. Blown head gasket

At current, I removed all the spark plugs, and shot a few ounces of transmission fluid into each cylinder. A plan on letting it soak overnight, then in the morning, unplug the coil packs and spin it over a bunch before installing a new set of plugs, in case the rings are merely frozen. What are your thoughts?

 

Bumpity bump bump....

Update: I fired it up, and ran it about 45 seconds before it shut down and kinda seized again The scary thing is, I registered NO oil pressure! WHAAAA!!!! Any thoughts? I can't afford an overhaul right now!!!!!!

 

What does the oil look like? Having a fried starter kind of tells you that somebody already tried a whole lot to get it running. It sure does look like it could be a lot of fun if you get it going again.
Steve

 

The oil was dark, not milky though. The filter was a bear to get off, though. I'm kinda scared......

 

check computer error codes in memory.

pull valve covers. if low/no oil pressure. rocker arms will show it. could be bad sending unit.

check and see if cam and crankshaft are in TIME.

bad starter .. it went bad trying to start a damaged engine.. in this case.
how many miles on truck?

 

Update:

After much trouble I got it to fire up and run. But the gauge showed no oil pressure. As I was wondering if the pump was fried or the sending unit was dead, the engine locked up and is totally seized. I guess it's time to rebuild it.....

 

Hope you bought it really cheap

 

I also hope you bought it really cheap... i would never let the engine continue to run if it showed no oil pressure.... even if it was just a bad sending unit I would never take the risk....

My bet is the alternator went bad from sitting for awhile.... the starter went bad trying to crank a seized up engine... and the engine went back from little to no oil being circulated...

I hope you post pictures of that engine torn apart... I bet as soon as you get the heads off it will be clear as day what happened....

 

Update:

Last night I got it torn down. The #8 Piston has a 1" hole blown right through the middle! The main bearings were shredded from the shrapnel. I am gonna take everything to my machine shop tomorrow to get things micrometered and see what can be saved....

 

Ouch. What was the original story you got on it on why it wasn't running.

You just don't destroy a piston and not know/feel it

Oh........POST SOME PICS!