I finally got around to tearing into my new(er) '93 pickup's engine. It would bind up while trying to crank it over. It would turn maybe three-fourths of a revolution and bind. I pulled out the radiator, the fan and the belts so I could get a wrench on the crankshaft pulley, center bolt, to turn it over by hand (with the plugs out). It will turn easily (too easily) and only bind occasionally. I can hear bad sounds about once every revolution, like a broken rod, or a rod that's come apart from the piston due to a broken piston pin. Looking in the spark plug holes I only see the middle pistons (#3, #4) moving. I also am unable to detect any compression in any cylinder at hand turning speed.

The history is that the prior owner drove it into a creek and got water into the intake tract. I am guessing that the engine hydro-locked and broke some internal parts. Since then he and another knuckle head have been trying to turn it over and messed with the timing belt I'm hoping I can rebuild this engine, but I imagine that in such a situation there could be fatal damage to the block and/or cylinder heads.

I guess the good news is that a rebuildable core could be had cheap, as well as new pistons. In fact I see sellers offering replacement pistons with rings, pins (by Nippon Piston & Ring (NPR)) and full bearing set for around $125.00. ANybody have any experience with these parts or any other comments? -- Matt