240 engine for scrap

[smiffy]

I recently answered an ad in JE magazine for a 1968 240. The car is a rust-bucket and has not moved for 25 years, having sat under a leaky car port. I've scavenged a number of usable parts from this car, which is otherwise only good for scrap. My question is, is the engine (or at least the straight-port cylinder head) worth saving? The engine is locked solid and does not rotate - no surprise there. The radiator and inlet waterways are empty. The distributor will not move, despite undoing the locking nut and removing the clamp-plate bolt. The HS6 carburettors are seized solid - the pistons do not budge and the throttle spindles are similarly fixed. The exhaust camshaft looks OK from the view down the oil filler. Any thoughts?
Best wishes, David

[cstorey]

Certainly I would have thought that the top end including carbs was worth saving . It is amazing what a good soaking in paraffin or diesel will do to seized components, and in fact 2.4 engines are becoming somewhat rare so that the whole engine is probably worth having

[sweller]

I'd agree with cstorey - it's amazing what a good soaking in a bucket of diesel can achieve. ....also been known to free up seized components.

You'll probably find the engine will un-seize when its broken down into its major components (crank, pistons, block, flywheel, top-end) - each of which will have a value to someone.

[smiffy]

Thanks folks, I thought this would be the case. I've suggested the lady gets in touch with a local specialist Jag breaker, but if anyone wants her number let me know (the car is in Surrey). I don't have the time or facility to sort this out - the car has to go by mid Jan, as she is moving house. The car is against a side wall in the far back corner of a car port which is collapsing, so difficult to access. Will need dragging out, I guess.
Best wishes, David