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best way to spin a short block while building

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Old Aug 1, 2012 | 08:19 PM
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Default best way to spin a short block while building

I'm currently putting together a ls1 short block. I've got the crank in and bolted in. It spun freely but as I added the pistons I can't find away to spin the crank as easy. I found an old crank bolt and tossed it in and it'll spin a bit and then I feel the bolt just stretching. It seems to be stuck between two points but it moves back and forth between those points. So my question is, can I find an easier way to spin the crank so I can tighten the rod bolts or is something messed up? Should it spin pretty easy with the pistons in? Maybe one of my piston rings is jacked up?
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Old Aug 1, 2012 | 08:45 PM
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It should still move easily with the pistons in. You're probably doing something wrong.
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Old Aug 1, 2012 | 08:52 PM
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Jason, you just answered your own question regarding the rings; better to question now than 10 hours of labor getting the motor dressed and into the car

without the rods in, you could spin the crank using the snout/timing gear with minimal effort?

I'm assuming you've done the 140degrees rotation and the oe tq procedure on the stock crank bolt a few times, getting the bolt to 'stretch' as you posted is nuckin futs if you don't have a flywheel bolted on with the KMoore locking tool
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Old Aug 1, 2012 | 09:31 PM
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Do you just have rod caps snugged in place? Are they stock rods? With a complete long block and spark plugs out I could turn the crank with very minimal effort...liked suggested check everything again and save yourself some headache!
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Old Aug 1, 2012 | 11:11 PM
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If you cant assemble the shortblock without "stretching" a stock crank bolt, then you have clearance problems my friend...
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Old Aug 2, 2012 | 09:03 AM
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Are you building a stroker, sounds like you might be hitting the cylinder wall with a rod, pistons shouldn't add resistance when turning the crank with no heads bolted on,
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Old Aug 2, 2012 | 09:21 AM
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something is def not right... better to check it now than build the whole thing and have a problem
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