Posted by David Sherman on Saturday, July 22, 2006 at 0:32AM :
In Reply to: help posted by jim on Friday, July 21, 2006 at 9:42PM :
Did it turn easy when you put it together? If so, lube like MN suggested should break it loose. With the plugs out, a normal 1/2" ratchet should be able to turn the engine. If it never turned easy, find out why now. All it takes is one bearing too tight (measured wrong, put in wrong oversize, got little bit of grit in it, etc) to make an engine real hard to turn over. Easiest way to find that problem is loosen all the bearing caps (including rods) a little bit till it turns easy, then torque them down one at a time until it gets hard to turn. Then look carefully for dirt, and if there isn't any, plastigage it again.