Flood damage to some parts

[mrvette]

Back in the 70s, I probably bought at least 50 flood cars at different times thru insurance auctions. Typically, the time period was at the earliest 45 days on these vehicles, from the time they were flooded until I had them in my hot little hands.
Every one I ever bought ended up running properly with virtually no downsides. Several, I sold to friends, so I did have a history to follow up on.

Normally, I would drain the fluids, fill the engines with diesel fuel to the top including valve covers, remove the spark plugs, turn over to expel any water. then run them until hot and change oil again.
Never had to take any apart. When I flushed them, since water is heaviest,it all runs down into the pan and is drained first there. Then running them till hot took care of the rest of it.
Same with all transmissions, just drain and fill to the very top, don't even have to run them immediately, they can just be stored that way.

I'm sure they lost a little longevity, but it was not evidenced by the ones I was able to keep track of.

What I see in the posted pictures is no big deal to me. :yahoo:

FUEL, or diesel engine/crankcase oil???

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Back in the 70s, I probably bought at least 50 flood cars at different times thru insurance auctions. Typically, the time period was at the earliest 45 days on these vehicles, from the time they were flooded until I had them in my hot little hands.
Every one I ever bought ended up running properly with virtually no downsides. Several, I sold to friends, so I did have a history to follow up on.

Normally, I would drain the fluids, fill the engines with diesel fuel to the top including valve covers, remove the spark plugs, turn over to expel any water. then run them until hot and change oil again.
Never had to take any apart. When I flushed them, since water is heaviest,it all runs down into the pan and is drained first there. Then running them till hot took care of the rest of it.
Same with all transmissions, just drain and fill to the very top, don't even have to run them immediately, they can just be stored that way.

I'm sure they lost a little longevity, but it was not evidenced by the ones I was able to keep track of.

What I see in the posted pictures is no big deal to me. :yahoo:

We used to submerge our 4x4 rigs all the time - and we used much the same method to clear them out (though that's where we perfected the environmentally safe method of pulling the plug then slapping it back in when oil started coming out - at least it was close to a river :skeptic... anyway, the only motor I ever had trouble with was a 472 Cadillac in my jet boat - no matter how well I covered the motor (with or without airflow), it'd always have at least a cup of water in the oil in the spring - which would turn the oil an nice shade of carmel.... Never changed the oil when that happened, just made sure I ran without the breathers on the motor for the first time out...

my point is, all of what I've said above is because that motor can't be warmed up to clear it out while sitting where it's at - thus more intrusive methods.

diesel does remind me of a time when it didn't work so well - in a motor that ran pennzoil; it melted the wax and plugged up the oil passages solid - then we we went and found a new motor as it redefined the term "seized" (more appropriately, maybe, it was welded together)

 

[MYBAD79]

wow, just saw this thread.... been busy for a few days now

glad to hear you did not get any major damage to your house, that engine can be fixed -just drop the pan as soon as you can, it will be fine :thumbs:

looking at your pics: looks like it's worth saving.... while you have the heads off measure the bore, if it's still stock bore I'd definitely keep it

 

[greg75vette]

That's a good idea to measure it. Thank you, sir :hi:

 

[GTR1999]

Hi Greg,
Sorry to hear you were underwater a couple of weeks ago. Glad the Diff and arms were not! Here the harbor came up to within 5' of the loading dock you picked up your parts from. The street and most the parking lot were under water but we didn't lose power and suffer any major damage, but a lot of places did. Then the following week we had 8" of snow!

Otherwise I hope all is well with you on the island.

 

[greg75vette]

Hi Greg,
Sorry to hear you were underwater a couple of weeks ago. Glad the Diff and arms were not! Here the harbor came up to within 5' of the loading dock you picked up your parts from. The street and most the parking lot were under water but we didn't lose power and suffer any major damage, but a lot of places did. Then the following week we had 8" of snow!

Otherwise I hope all is well with you on the island.

Thanks for your thoughts Gary. Luckily, your parts were all on the car, up high. If they were with the rest of my rear end suspension, they would have been under 3 foot of water.

That's a crazy amount of flooding for you as well. Knowing that parking lot and street were under is weird to imagine. And you beat us on snow. We only had about 2-3".