WAIT! How are you trying to turn the crank over? :confused:

Didn't the Craig's List Bandit Mechanic make off with your 27mm socket?!?!?!? :eek:

I always loan my "generic" brand tools to strangers!

hahaha... You didn't think I was using the "sideways visegrip" method he was employing do you!

Guess what. BY PURE CHANCE I happened to be going through some old pics on my cell phone, and found a few pictures I took of the cam gear locations WAY back when I removed the belt. Well, the gears are EXACTLY where they are supposed to be...

Any other ideas why the engine wont turn? I'm going outside to find out what position the shift lever is in.

Don't apply too much force, something has to be binding. Try and locate the segment of the belt that has increased tension on one side and not the other as you try to turn the motor. If you can't find it that way, I think the belt needs to come off and each part checked for free movement (just not much away from the 45 on the crank).

Ignore what I said about PARK, too late at night for me to think. PARK locks the rear wheels, but torque converter would allow free motion of the motor.

Was the CL Mechanic able to spin one or both cams by hand?

OK! I'm an idiot. The engine DOES spin! I just wasn't turning hard enough (i'm used to motorcycle engines.....)

Well, I'm going to go put everything back together and put some fresh oil and coolant in it, and give it a whirl!

Duh! ;)

Take pics of the cam gears and harmonic at TDC.

Spark Plugs OUT! Run Compression checks on all cylinders, post all readings and pics here ASAP! Don't lose momentum SmileWavy

Ok, I just bought oil, filter, plugs, and compression tool (NAPA) what are the compression readings supposed to be? 32valve.

caution
 

Just turn the engine over by hand a few times and every second time check the blasted marks are lining up. IF there is no binding and everything seems OK (crossing fingers) tap the starter and then hand crank a bit to make sure everything is Kosher. Just take compression readings. looking for discrepancies in compression at this point. BTW check the oil and coolant. (duh)

LMAO..... I'm glad it wasn't anything serious! :)

What did the compression check turn up?

Doesn't matter now, he sold the car last weekend.

BB out of the game?
 

Whaaaattt?:eek:

One of the guys up here in OC picked it up last Saturday. BB wants to focus on taking apart a nice 79 he bought.

It does matter.

I'm the guy that bought it.

I've got oil in the coolant. Wondering if he has numbers on the compression check so I can hopefully eliminate a head gasket or cracked block. I'm praying for a ruptured oil cooler....

It smells like motor oil and not tranny fluid. I closed the hood and walked away tonight. I'll dig in tomorrow...

Ok???? Your post sounded like any of the rest of us trying to help Blythe on this one. If you read all the posts back, we tried to get him to do readings with not much luck. Your best bet is Buy, Borrow or Steal a Compression Tester and test them yourself. Probably also best to start your own thread and post readings and issue stated in your post.

I also saw the S4 when he first bought it, and if it weren't for hard economic times, your S4 would have been in my driveway ;) Pressure test the Radiator Coolers and Radiator and report back.

I'll have a compression tester tonight or tomorrow. When I get the results, I will post them.

I'll start a new thread. I got some great advice about testing the radiator, that I will post there.

Thanks!