Can't turn crank
 

I have been fighting with this car for awhile the latest problem is I installed a new timing chain but I noticed that I am unable to turn the crank.....The instructions say do so to make sure everything is lined up, the cam spins freely but the crank does not. I can move it in either direction about 2 inches and then it seems to get caught on something. The car is in neutral any ideas on what I am missing? TIA

This is a running motor right? Not a fresh rebuild or anything? I'm assuming you probably just forgot to take out the spark plugs....


Chuck

ya, like chuck said, probably the spark plugs if you didnt remove them previously. other then that there should be no hang ups if the car is in neutral.

Stupid question but how you worded this ..., is the chain installed when you try to turn the motor over?
If the crank doesnt turn the cam over at all or in time it will hit valves.:judge:

If the cam spins freely then there is no way he has the rockers on.

I was able to turn my motor over by the crank bolt when I had all 8 plugs in.

Crank does spin with the spark plugs on. It does it slowly because it building up compression though.
Did you line up the dots correctly?
If you didn't line them up correctly maybe the valves are hitting the pistons.
How big is your cam?

We need more info. Are you trying to turn the crank while it is attached to the cam? If so, you probably have a piston/valve clearence issue. If not, definitly somthing not right. Remove the spark plugs to see if this will help, although you should still be able to turn the motor over with the spark plugs in.

Probably right about the spark plugs this time I didn't remove them. I was trying to turn the crank with the timing chain attached when it didn't then I removed the chain and tried to spin the cam to make sure nothing was wrong there. Cam spins fine so I was thinking there was some other issue. The car was running before I decided to do the swap everything was lined up dot to dot. So I will to remove the plugs and see if I can turn the crank then. Thanks

If you do not install the rockers with the spark plugs in you will only be able to move it a little as above stated. If you remove them then it will turn over but that is not going to tell you anything with out the rockers and pushrods installed, because you will not be moving the valves with out the pushrods and rockers installed ETC... In other words what is the point unless you are checking piston to valve clearance? I would think unless you are running an extreamly big or custom cam that you would have all the information needed to know P/V clearance on your cam. I am sure you will get it. I am sure some other guys willl help you out if you get lost again. If you need some phone help call me (713)302-0737 I'll do what I can to help you.
Jeff

Well I got the plugs out unfortunately 2 were smashed pretty bad. The crank does turn better but still getting stuck so its looks like I will have to pull the heads again. I'll keep you guys updated......it sucks!!!!

2 busted valves...passenger side still accessing damage!!!

Good luck!

Ok pulled the heads and confirmed the busted valves I also have a mark on the piston 1mm x 1mm on #4 piston do I need to replace or is this so small as to not be a big worry?

i would replace it but some may say to reuse it. i dont like taking any chanses. sometimes when the valve hits the piston, it acually expans it and might have problems later on.

Sorry. that blows...
...so what is the cause of the piston/valve problem ...did u have a cam that is too big, install the cam backwards?

The problem actually started after I milled my heads .030 I posted a few times to see if I could run the stock pushrod length and after being told yes several times I installed and ran the engine....the beginning of my problems. After hearing the noise it made I decided to contact a couple of engine builders and was told they were too long. Pulled the heads on one side of the engine and everything look good threw it back together problem still there. So after many tear downs (which I'm pretty good at) pulled both heads and have found the results of being misinformed. 396 sounds so good now, but realisticly I probably will have to piece together something just to get back on the road......will let you guys know.

If you had a cam with lift over 0.560, stock rockers, and heads milled 30 thousanths I dont think the pushrods were your issue.

What else do you think could've caused it???