Have you got the plugs in or out if they are in take them out.Get you the scoket that goes over the end of the crank and use a bracker bar before you hut yourself. If it stell dose not turnover then you have something wrong.

TIM

 

The plugs are out. I am just cautious on putting too much torque on the bolt. I have tried with just a regular 3/8 in socket wrench.

 

What gear (assuming engine is in car) is the tranny in?

------------------
...Dennis
"The '69, the '96 & the club"

 

engine is on stand not in car. pistons,timing chain,balancer and heads are on

 

Eastwood (and others) sell an adapter that bolts to the pulley holes in the damper and accepts a 1/2"-drive ratchet; I either use that, or a Craftsman strap wrench. Don't use the damper bolt - if you break it, you've got real problems.

------------------
JohnZ
CRG
'69 Z28 Fathom Green

 

If this is a new rebiuld with cast pistons, the piston clearance is tight. The engine will turn over fairly hard. If your worried about braking the bolt off, use your 1/2 torque wrench set to 60lb. If you have to use more force then that, something is wrong. Insert two of the harmonic to pully bolts almost all the way in and use a small pry bar or large screw driver to turn the motor one way than the other. If it turns and then stops, something is binding and you will have to look inside.

 

According to David Vizards Book "How to rebuild your small block Chevy" on page 104 he says that you should be able to turn your engine over with no more that 35 to 40 pounds-feet of torque. This is before the cam and timing chain are installed. That should not add much resistence. Obviosly, this sis with no spark plugs installed. If you are doing a rebuild you should get this book. Hope this helps

 

This is what i've done:
Start the 3 bolts that go into your harmonic balancer. Then use a pry bar to turn the engine. It will turn hard so DO NOT use the harmonic balancer bolt! You can strip those things right out.

 

You could have something that has dropped ontop of a piston. If you could turn the short block over and after you get the heads on it won't, then I would pull the heads.

 

Is your engine stand holder tightened up against the flywheel or crankshaft?

 

The 2 bolts on the balancer with a pry bar did the trick! it turns pretty easily that way. Im relieved that I didn`t screw up. Thanks!! all for your advice.

 

OK now have you tighten the rocker nuts at all if not sung them down a little bet so that the valve can open a little this will let the air out so you can turn the motor. Then you can set the valves the way they need to be.

TIM

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Tim Meredith:
OK now have you tighten the rocker nuts at all if not sung them down a little bet so that the valve can open a little this will let the air out so you can turn the motor. Then you can set the valves the way they need to be.

TIM<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

NO NO I am sorry you said you had the plugs out. Did you put assembly lub on the crank and rods. try puting some oil down in the plug holes maybe you have some dry cylinders or you have the rods or mains to tight. Less hope not. HOPE THIS HELPS.

 

When I first assembled my 383, a counterweight on the crank was hitting the oil pan. Also if you put a rod cap(s) on backward one could hit the adjacent rod cap and bind up.

Just be careful - it's hard to tell on the net if the force you need to use to turn the engine over is excessive or not. Now is the time to fix it if something is wrong. Use a torque wrench on the balancer bolt and measure how much force is needed to turn it over. If the heads, valvetrain and plugs are all in it should not take more than about 60 ft/lbs. Probably half that with the spark plugs out.

------------------
68 Camaro, 383 small block with TH350 trans. 11.98's at 111mph and never trailered.

 

when my 406 was together,cam but no p-rods or rockers, it took 45' pounds to turn it over. almost exactly what my machinist said it should be (40-60) much more than this sounds like a possible problem. when we put my buddies 565c.u. together, w/ low tension rings, you could turn the freakin' thing by hand w/ the balancer (no rocker arms, of course). just be sure, things can get real expensive when you start it up!