Sad Lincoln Capri Update

"JR1" (type35bugatti) 07/03/2014 at 15:44 • Filed to: Lincoln Capri, 1959 Lincoln

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So as some of you know I have been trying to bring a 1959 Lincoln Capri back to life. Today I learned that the engine is locked up and the cost to repair the thing is probably higher than my budget could possibly allow. So now I have to weigh my options and decide what to do with the car. Might have to sell it as a parts car. Or swap the engine but even then I imagine it would be out of my budget and skill level. We will just have to see. With all the rust damage on a unibody car and a locked up engine it might be too far gone.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > JR1 07/03/2014 at 15:50

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Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > JR1 07/03/2014 at 15:56

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If possible, find the cheapest engine compatible, swap it in, and keep the original engine. Some day you might be able to rebuild it.

briannutter1 > JR1 07/03/2014 at 16:01

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Is the floorpan rusty? If not, that engine of mine might still be available.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > JR1 07/03/2014 at 16:01

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Buy a $900 S10 or Ranger and do a motor swap.

Brian, The Life of > JR1 07/03/2014 at 16:15

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Bamahoon is right. Old Y-Blocks are pretty damn cheap and should bolt right up. Keep the 430 until you can rebuild it ... then tri-power that shit and built a Hot Rod Lincoln! :D

Seriously though, have you taken a breaker bar to the pulley yet to see if you can budge it?

KatzManDu > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 07/03/2014 at 16:20

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There have to be scores of cheap 289s and 351s out there that can bolt in.

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > JR1 07/03/2014 at 16:24

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Never say never... until you've gotten a chance to look down the bores. If you know/can locate somebody with a borescope, it may be locked up in a less significant way than you think. One of our Land Rovers sat for probably 15-20 years with the carb off - got locked up - we pulled the oil pan, knocked the pistons loose, and it's now running like a champ without us having to even rebuild or lightly hone the top end. There was another engine, a Ford 172 industrial that had been sitting since the 70s, and our total spent on it was only a couple hundred even though we had to strip it down. No permanent bore damage that a light kiss with a hone wouldn't fix - and that's a hard engine to find parts for too.

Past that, the "easy junkyard swap lol" crowd is entirely right. Some engines out there that should swap easily and for cheap.

Bottom line: now is not the time to panic.

JGrabowMSt > JR1 07/03/2014 at 16:31

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Step One: Remove Decepticon.

Still not completed.

Dont lose hope now. I would work on other things and learn about working on it.

Is the block seized? How did you tell? Have you tried cranking by hand from the crank pulley bolt?

I would pull the heads and see if you can find out where the problem is. You might get lucky. Give it a shot, you have nothing invested, so youre not going to lose out by learning. There arent many chances to learn like this, so make sure you dont let go of it.

AutoSavant > JR1 07/03/2014 at 17:25

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Take the plugs out and put WD-40 in each cylinder. Let it sit for a day or so. Try to turn it over by hand or with the starter with the plugs out. I've gotten engines turning that have sat for a long time by doing that. Ideally, I would pull the engine and at least pull the pan, intake and valve covers off to see if anything major has happened.

JR1 > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 07/04/2014 at 09:22

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I have never done a motor swap and I can't imagine that would be an easy one. That being said it could be a viable option.

JR1 > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull 07/04/2014 at 09:23

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I do hope you're right I will look into checking out the bores if I can

JR1 > Brian, The Life of 07/04/2014 at 09:24

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Yes and it will not budge. I would have a better chance breaking into fort knox than to get that engine to turn.

JR1 > JGrabowMSt 07/04/2014 at 09:26

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I did forget until you mentioned this post that is car was just supposed to be a learning experience. Thanks for a reminder. I might pull the heads just to poke around and learn.

JR1 > briannutter1 07/04/2014 at 09:27

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Floorpan is pretty rusty. The entire car was essentially sitting on the ground. I will keep it in mind though because it sounds like you have quite an engine.

JR1 > AutoSavant 07/04/2014 at 09:28

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I have tried a few times to remove the plugs. They are stuck extremely tight.

Brian, The Life of > JR1 07/04/2014 at 11:28

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:(

AutoSavant > JR1 07/05/2014 at 14:10

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Hit those plugs with PB Blaster and let them sit for a day or so. Get some leverage on them and pull. Hopefully the threads are intact on those cast iron heads.