need some help on a chrysler 6 w/ fluid drive. car has set in a garage for 35 years. I am trying to see if motor will turn or not. I have soaked it down good and now want to try and turn it manually before I go any further. I jacked the car up and turned the rear wheels but I dont think this will work because of fluid drive trans. cant turn it by hand (by the fan blade). I am not sure if fluid drive should turn engine or not. anyone have any experience with these that could lend me some advice?
you should be able to remove the starter and turn it with a big screwdriver. just take care not to break the flywheel teeth.
With a fluid drive, you have no direct connection from the trans to engine, this is why you can spin the rear wheels and not get the fan and damper pulley to budge. Think of the fluid drive like to fans facing each other, when the 1 spins fast enough the other follows.
If this engine is seized bad, you are going to have to pull it, if seized just lightly, fill the cyls with diesel or whatever concoction you like, pull the side covers and see if any valves are stuck too. Pulling the head is a good idea too, that way you can see what is going on, and fill the cyls too.
It should turn on the starter. Do you have a 6 volt battery? Remember the battery is positive ground, the opposite of new cars. I have had several old flathead Chrysler products and never had much trouble getting one going.