Engine Siezed!!!*&^%$#@!@#

[teamgomez]

Dropped engine for tranny refresh and opened pandora's box with the engine detailing, etc...problem is that after I hooked it all back up and had the wife and kids standing by for the "big moment" of getting the garage queen back on the open road, "click" and nothing. Nada. Zippo. No turny.

Engine siezed

Here's a brief summary:
1. Engine got leakdown check while it was out and a powdercoated fan housing, valve covers, etc. Removed distrib at #1 TDC to get fan housing strap back thru. Fan blades all clear (that's another story...) and no hang-up with distrib gear. Batt 4.0

2. After replacing distrib, also reinstalled pressure plate with new clutch disc. Engine turned ok for about 50 deg (quick check) but felt a small hangup/difficult to rotate . Wrote it off as being near-top of compression stroke for #6 (retrospect: back write-off).

3. Mated engine to tranny- shift fork good, clutch op good, don't think it's a tranny issue.

Any ideas? Going to drop it again (**&#$*&$#&*%(*#%) and look at:
-any debris in a valve springs (thought I QA'd them prior to replacing valve covers although they were off for a few weeks and my rogue 3 yr old might have "helped himself" to fixing dad's engine by dropping his loose change in the valve assy....)
-debris behind flywheel
-satanic symbols indicating possession and call the preacher for exorcism and eulogy.

Reward for return of my sanity. Thanks!

[82SC]

hmmm...sorry to hear that...but start with the simple things

did you change the timing??? could be a valve and a piston touching...

did a chain fall off one of the sprockets?

diificult to rotate?? my engine was difficult to rotate after I install new cams but it was just the compression...are you rotating it with the spark plugs out??

good luck

[doozer]

Did you align the clutch plate properly? is it off center and possible making contact?
Any reason you would have a piston hydro locked? ( liquid in cylinder )
Wild ass guesses....

[teamgomez]

Don't think I've hydro-locked one but it does bring up the possibility my kid "watered" the engine (believe me, I can't assume anything here....) so it's a decent wild-ass guess!

Didn't change the timing- distrib went out TDC#1 and back in same, and I didn't do anything that would pop a chain off.

The engine won'r rotate from the pulley off the fan housing (either way- cw or god forbid ccw). Can't budge it and don't want to put the 200 ftlb 1/2" air gun on it, yet...

[URIN 2ND]

Ouch man...I know your pain. Very very sorry!

[82SC]

hmmm...well good luck...keep us updated so we know the final result

MJ

[Grady Clay]

Possible clutch cover bolt contacting the case? Could too long bolt have been used? Is ring gear on clutch? Did you have the flywheel off? If so, did you replace the bolts? Were they the correct length?

Did something fall in the engine when you removed the distributor or wrestled with the fan housing strap?

Best of luck,
Grady

[Jim Smolka]

How about the old ground strap not connected...

[Jim Smolka]

How about the old ground strap not being connected

[Doug Steinel]

If you remove the plugs and try to turn the engine when trans is in neutral, does it turn by turning the pulley? By using the starter? If it doesn't in either case , then you can assume it is something mechanical and not worry about ground straps and such.

[jdowty3]

I hate it when this happens. I've done it with VW motors. Doh!
When you say it went "click", that is the starter solnoid engaging but is the starter straining to crank. I'd check the 12V power to the starter and the ground first. Can you rotate it using the pulley bolt? Sounds like you did open the motor enough to cause any issues with the timing chains. If the starter checks out, look at the clutch as many above have said. Good luck and keep us posted.

[rcwaldo]

As Grady said, if you removed your flywheel, did you use too long of a flywheel bolt? There are two lengths for pre-89 cars, IIRC.

Chris

[david c.]

I don't see how fiddling with the distributor would lead to pistons hitting valves. Did you mess with the cam timing at all?

[Rot 911]

Guys, I know you are all trying to be helpful, but read what he says!!!!!!

Originally posted by teamgomez
The engine won't rotate from the pulley off the fan housing (either way- cw or god forbid ccw). Can't budge it and don't want to put the 200 ftlb 1/2" air gun on it, yet...

His engine is locking up! You sure as hell don't want to be trying to turn it over with the starter until you find out what is locking things up!!!!!!

First I would pull the plugs and see if you can turn the engine over using a wrench on the pulley. Only turn clockwise as turning counter clockwise can screw up your timing chains. If it turns over ok (which something tells me it won't) then put the plugs back in and try to start car. If engine doesn't turn over with plugs out, have someone push in on the clutch and then see if you can turn the engine over by hand. If so, you will have to drop the engine and tranny and fix the problem. Same thing even if you can't turn the engine over.

[Rick Lee]

When you installed the flywheel and pressure plate, how did you lock the flywheel down? I use a double-ended box wrench and hang one end on a case-tranny stud and the other onto a pressure plate bolt I screw into the flywheel. If you did this, I hope you didn't rotate the crank backwards while tightening the flywheel or pressure plate bolts. You would be turning it counterclockwise if you tightened bolts on the front of the engine and did not have it locked down. This can screw up your timing chains.

[dtw]

Look around on your bench for the ring gear. If you forget to bolt up the ring gear, the pressure plate/clutch bolts will lock the flywheel up by interfering with the case. Ask me how I know... (doh).

[dickster]

you dont seem to have done anything mechanical that would cause it.

i agree, take the plugs out and see if you can turn it by hand.

the "click" that you mentioned may be due to a drained battery, or missing/bad ground??

good luck.

[Early_S_Man]

Sounds like Dave nailed it ... the 'forgotten ring gear syndrome!'

[teamgomez]

Nevermind- just figured out the ring gear is on the perimeter of the flywheel, eh?

Don't think that the ring gear is the issue here- never removed the flywheel but can't help but think at this point that something is interfering with the back of the flywheel and the case.

Dropping it this afternoon- will post results!

[Rick Lee]

The ring gear goes on the pressure plate and could still be removed without touching the flywheel.