Crank won't rotate! Need help!

[96mitsugsx]

Hi guys! Just need advice on an engine swap I did on my 97 gst auto. The car threw a rod and made a hole on the block. I found a brand new 7 bolt short block that is already assembled. It even had a box with the Mitsubishi part number on it. I used the old head but I had the machine shop rebuild it. I already put everything back together in the car and before I was about to fire it up, I decided to double check the timing. I can't rotate the crank no matter how hard I try. It was rotating before when I put the timing belt and the transmission. It was also fine when the engine and tranny was out of the car. Please help. I'm totally lost! Thanks in advance.

 

[joe sobo]

you could have a number of problems, starting with the flywheel or clutch binding up. did you ever spin this engine over by hand when the head was off the car? or do you even know that it was not just locked up when you bought it?if you had the head redone, then that throws out that possibility of bent valves, or the machine shop never checked them.
if the engine was rebuilt from someone else, then they may have lost track of the rod caps and put them on the wrong pistons'

 

[300dollarGSX]

If your valve timing is incorrect, then some of the valves could be open when the pistons are near TDC and could stop you from turning the engine over (valves acting as a piston stop). Don't force it, if that's the case, because you can bend your fresh valves by forcing the engine over.

If you bolted on the head and installed the timing belt when it was out of the car and everything was fine, then I would suspect something is binding from the transmission installation. It could also just be stuck in gear. Hopefully, it's something easy.

 

[96mitsugsx]

The block was complete and assembled when I got it. It was fine before I put the head. It was also okay when I set the timing belt. I rotated it a lot of times when I installed the timing belt and made sure the timing was dead on. I also rotated it a few more times when I bolted the tranny because it was an automatic. It was also fine after the tranny install. I already put the tranny in neutral also. The machine shop replaced like 8 bent valves. Also I already took out the timing belt and still won't rotate.

 

[rush2252]

Have you tried removing the spark plugs and seeing if it will turn freely? I would think its tranny issues as well. Youre sure its in N? Check the neutral safety switch/transmission range sensor. Its located ontop of the tranny where the shifter cable attaches? If its in N then the hold should line up from the lever and the plastic part of the switch! You might have it in between gears!

 

[96mitsugsx]

I already took out the plugs and still nothing! I'm pretty sure it's in neutral because I connected the battery and tried playing with the shifter. Whenever I put it in gear I would hear a buzzing sound. I know that's normal for Mitsubishi cars with A/T. Also checked if it was lined up because when I put it on reverse, the reverse light turned on. I'll double check again today if I'm in between gears. I'll try to turn it without the starter. Let's see what happens.

 

[96mitsugsx]

Hi guys it still won't turn! I took out the starter and tried again. It still won't rotate!! Any ideas?

 

[96mitsugsx]

I decided to drop the oil pan and found some metal shavings. Do you think the it's from one of the bearings?

 

[dan2288]

you found metal shavings in a brand new motor ? Take the rod caps off and check the bearings.

 

[corsair231]

You took the plugs out, that eliminates hydrolock. Will the crank rotate backwards at all? You don't have to turn it far but if it moves at all with only a reasonable amount of effort then it is probably not the bearings locking it up. That doesn't mean that you don't have a problem with your bearings. Because of the shavings you found you still need to check them out. But this will eliminate the bearings as the source of binding. If it turns I would suspect either valves hitting the piston (jumped timing??) or something fell into one of the cylinders and is locking it up. If it won't turn then it may be the bearings or the transmission.

 

[96mitsugsx]

you found metal shavings in a brand new motor ? Take the rod caps off and check the bearings.

Yes. I don't know why. I will check the bearings and keep you updated.

 

[96mitsugsx]

You took the plugs out, that eliminates hydrolock. Will the crank rotate backwards at all? You don't have to turn it far but if it moves at all with only a reasonable amount of effort then it is probably not the bearings locking it up. That doesn't mean that you don't have a problem with your bearings. Because of the shavings you found you still need to check them out. But this will eliminate the bearings as the source of binding. If it turns I would suspect either valves hitting the piston (jumped timing??) or something fell into one of the cylinders and is locking it up. If it won't turn then it may be the bearings or the transmission.

It doesn't want to rotate in both directions. I'm almost finished pulling the tranny down. Probably tomorrow. I'll keep you posted. Thanks.

 

[rush2252]

You assembled a REBUILT motor and there are metal shavings in the pan? The OP you said everything turn freely until the motor was in the car? Im a bit confused as to what happened if the motor hasnt been ran?

 

[96mitsugsx]

Actually, the short block is not rebuilt. It's a brand new block. It even had a box with a Mitsubishi sticker for the part number. I'm confused too. I'm in the process of going backwards up to the point when the crank was rotating. I'll be finished pulling down the tranny in a couple of hours. I hope I just made a mistake in putting the tranny.

 

[xxsupralvrxx]

new? no warrenty?? ....metal shavings cant be good..

 

[96mitsugsx]

Hey guys! I got it all figured out! The block that I got didn't have the crankshaft bushing for A/T cars! What a PITA for something that only costs $13!!!! I had to pull out the tranny again for me to gain access to it! I even took the timing belt out too! I just started the car tonight and so far so good! I just have to bleed the cooling system tomorrow. Thanks anyway for the responses.

 

[Project2G]

Can you tell me what machine shop you went to? I'm coming back to the area and just curious which shop you went to.

 

[Big Woo]

So do you have everything sorted out now?

 

[4g64fiero]

Dude, you found metal shavings in your new motor? How much? A little during the first 50 miles or so is normal....

 

[donniekak]

Dude, you found metal shavings in your new motor? How much? A little during the first 50 miles or so is normal....

Yeah, not really shavings, but "glitter" is normal.

 

[96mitsugsx]

Sorry they were just glitters. I have it all sorted out. Good thing it was just minor but a lot of work to fix it.

Can you tell me what machine shop you went to? I'm coming back to the area and just curious which shop you went to.

I just moved to Vegas. I went to a small machine shop here called Performance Engineering.

 

[MOTOR-RX]

good you figured it out. did sound like a tranny problem though the way you descibed it