Hey guys,

My friend and I just finished a build on my car consisting of

pistons
rods
valve springs
valves
cams


and other stuff that doesnt matter, those are the main parts...


We have a problem...

After getting everything bolted up and 110% we went to start the car and it wouldnt turn over.

I then took a torque wrench to the bolt by the front right tire to turn the motor and it wont budge. We thought over everything we did and cant figure out where we could have gone wrong.


Tomorrow we're going to pull the valve cover off and pull the cams out and start there, most likely pull the head again.


Any idea what would cause that to lock up so we cant turn it.


Thank you!

 

my friend thinks its the lifters because theyre very difficult to squeeze down, so he think thats keeping the cam from rotating....


This is beyond me...

 

Lifters are not supposed to "squeeze down" by hand, if they do they are no good. Here are my thoughts, if you used an aftermarket rod, there is a good chance that the big end of the rod is considerably larger than OEM this will cause the rod to hit the side of the block. Many of the aftermarket rods require clearancing of the block to make room for the rod to swing around.

 

i went with the buschur crower rods that are suppose to be a drop in item, i've yet to speak with buschur to find out their advice.


Tomorrow we're pulling off the cams to see if we can turn the crank free hand hopefully thatll make it obvious of its a bottom end or head issue

Thanks for the response!

 

bump

 

i dont agree that it is the lifters, but did you make sure you bled the lifters? cuz the will blow out or tap when the car runs. but if you didnt bleed them then it will be a little harder to rotate the engine

 

are you sure you have the cams and crank in proper time?

 

Do not crank it any more! Talk to Jrod

 

could be many things...

cb

 

I'm betting it's one of the parts you say don't matter. But seriously did you crank it by hand before you put the head on?

 

Agreed, the only option now is to tear it back down and inspect everything just to be sure. Sucks for sure.

 

piston hit a valve...locked up the rotating assembly.

did it start to turn and lockup?? you would have found this when you used that bolt to turn over the engine by hand when you did the timing belt. did anyone check that prior to install??

TOO many variables to diagnose, like CBRD said. could be many things. i agree with Chad...

here is what i would do first...

pull the timing cover and check your cam gears. i bet you used adjustables didnt you?? see where they are at. check and double check the timing marks top and bottom.

 

Well considering you said you tried to start the car and then after it did not start you decided to try and spin it by hand which you should of done first, I think the answer is pretty clear. Piston hit the valve which did not allow the crank to rotate over and it is locked up.

 

ok that or you could be really lucky and a rocker fell off the lifter and is binding on the cam, anything else in this situation and I think it is going to be bad.