Author Topic: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???  (Read 10142 times)

Offline GlennLever

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2058
    • View Profile
    • The Lever Family Site
  • Your Best Time: 1/4 mile 7.950 at 165 MPH
  • Your Engine: Pontiac 461 Alky Blown
  • Your Track: Empire Dragway, NY
  • Your Vehicle: Front Engine Dragster
Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« on: June 17, 2017, 08:54:31 PM »

Went up for our first round of eliminations.

Started fine, then it sounded like the starter was hung up in the flex plate, revved it up and the sound did not go away.

Shut it off and started it up, started fine. What the heck try a burn out to see if it would shake it free.

Half way through the burn out it shut off.

Pulled over to the wall, and got out.

Opponent made his run.

Got back in and was pushed back, and went to the pits.

Starter strains to turn the engine over.

Drained the oil, no metal, but little tiny bits of red, looks and feels like RTV. No red RTV was used building the engine only black and silver.

I have a System 1 remote filter, dumped it and no metal. Found one ore two of the tiny red bits.

Put  new oil in, new starter and it still strains to turn it over.

Pulled the blower belt, blower is not seized.

Pulled one valve cover, all looks normal, I forgot to turn the engine over to check to see if the rocker arms were moving, Think they are ok as there are no strange noises. This will have to be checked when I get home.

There are no strange noises from the bottom end when turned over with the starter.

Pulled all the plugs the front two were the hottest, discoloration all the way around the end of the plug, but not into the treads.

Used a bore scope in those two cylinders, tops of the pistons look brand new, cross hatching on the cylinder walls still look new.

I'm perplexed. Put it all back together, and put it in the trailer. When I get home the first thing I will do is pull the torque converter bolts.

Next would be to pull the pan and see if the rods will move, then maybe pull the main caps.

I'm open to ideas.
Glenn R. Lever
Rochester, New York 14617-2012
My Cars https://www.lever-family-racing.com/

dreracecar

  • Guest
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2017, 06:02:38 PM »
Thought---- possably the ring gap closed up and the expansion stuck the pistons??? I dont know if you did anything from the last time you ran it

Offline Supercat

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 256
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 6.16 @ 218 1/4
  • Your Track: Bakersfield to Bowling Green to New England dragway
  • Your Vehicle: Buick powered/ 200" Fastech FED
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2017, 07:00:19 PM »
Glen we tore up the convertor and did some damage to our trans at BG a few years ago. Acted the same as yours is acting now.
Heavy drag until I un bolted the convertor. Engine fired up fine.
Hope for something easy......

Offline GlennLever

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2058
    • View Profile
    • The Lever Family Site
  • Your Best Time: 1/4 mile 7.950 at 165 MPH
  • Your Engine: Pontiac 461 Alky Blown
  • Your Track: Empire Dragway, NY
  • Your Vehicle: Front Engine Dragster
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2017, 08:33:44 PM »
It will be in my garage tomorrow, hope to have some answers tomorrow night.
Glenn R. Lever
Rochester, New York 14617-2012
My Cars https://www.lever-family-racing.com/

Offline Frontenginedragsters

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 202
    • View Profile
    • Pro-Formance Specialties
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2017, 03:23:21 AM »
A Blower test's the parts.
Driving a Front Engine Dragster builds character and keeps you awake for a 1/4 mile at a time.
http://www.pro-formancespecialties.com/

Offline GlennLever

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2058
    • View Profile
    • The Lever Family Site
  • Your Best Time: 1/4 mile 7.950 at 165 MPH
  • Your Engine: Pontiac 461 Alky Blown
  • Your Track: Empire Dragway, NY
  • Your Vehicle: Front Engine Dragster
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2017, 05:46:26 AM »
The Crankshaft is broken, working on getting it out.

New one will have to be balanced. Hopefully the rod and piston weights were recorded.

If need be will pull # 8 rod and piston.

Problem may be the rod if it cannot be saved and new one needs to be ordered. Will also order the narrow bearings

 http://www.competitionproducts.com/Eagle-Forged-4340-Steel-Crankshaft-Pontiac-400-Main-4250-Stroke-6700-and-up-Rod-Length-2200-Journal/productinfo/EAG440042506700/#.WUm0Q_8YzFI.email
Glenn R. Lever
Rochester, New York 14617-2012
My Cars https://www.lever-family-racing.com/

Offline Supercat

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 256
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 6.16 @ 218 1/4
  • Your Track: Bakersfield to Bowling Green to New England dragway
  • Your Vehicle: Buick powered/ 200" Fastech FED
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2017, 07:26:30 AM »
Ouch....
That's not as easy as a trans issue...
« Last Edit: June 21, 2017, 08:21:12 AM by Supercat »

dreracecar

  • Guest
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2017, 08:04:21 AM »
And it did not break clean thru??

Offline JrFuel Hayden

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 600
    • View Profile
    • Hayden Enterprises Speciality Wheels
  • Your Best Time: 6.02, 236 mph, 1/4 in 1973 Div 3 TF Champ
  • Your Engine: SBC, Alky, 403 ci, Best 6.99 @ 190 & 409 Hemi
  • Your Track: Bakersfield
  • Your Vehicle: 225" FED NHRA Heritage Jr Fuel
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #8 on: June 21, 2017, 09:21:49 AM »
Is that an OEM crank ?
Jon
Jon C. Hansen

Hayden Wheels

Offline Paul New

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 745
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 6.47 @ 214 MPH SBC
  • Your Engine: 387" SBC
  • Your Track: Woodburn Dragstrip
  • Your Vehicle: 2005 FED
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #9 on: June 21, 2017, 09:56:39 AM »
That will cause it hard to turn! Your going to pull the engine apart to put a crank in it, it will be easy to measure the bob weight at that time of it wasn't recorded

dreracecar

  • Guest
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #10 on: June 21, 2017, 10:13:18 AM »

Offline GlennLever

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2058
    • View Profile
    • The Lever Family Site
  • Your Best Time: 1/4 mile 7.950 at 165 MPH
  • Your Engine: Pontiac 461 Alky Blown
  • Your Track: Empire Dragway, NY
  • Your Vehicle: Front Engine Dragster
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #11 on: June 21, 2017, 12:27:38 PM »
And it did not break clean thru??

Yes, I had the rear cap off when I rotated the engine and the back piece fell out of the engine.

New crank is ordered, new rods are coming from Venolia
« Last Edit: June 21, 2017, 12:29:21 PM by GlennLever »
Glenn R. Lever
Rochester, New York 14617-2012
My Cars https://www.lever-family-racing.com/

Offline THE FRENCHTOWN FLYER

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 360
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 8.28@168 door; 9.00@147 6-cyl alt; 8.53@160 RED
  • Your Engine: 300 Ford six NA w/ crossflow and prod. heads
  • Your Track: Milan, Thompson
  • Your Vehicle: (3) Advanced Chassis altered , The Last Logghe altered, '30 RPU
  • General Location: North Coast
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #12 on: June 21, 2017, 12:32:37 PM »
FWIW it looks as though the crack started at about the 10 O'clock position on the last photo. Maybe use a smaller journal lightening hole. And nitride. And more generous cheek radii.

Offline GlennLever

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2058
    • View Profile
    • The Lever Family Site
  • Your Best Time: 1/4 mile 7.950 at 165 MPH
  • Your Engine: Pontiac 461 Alky Blown
  • Your Track: Empire Dragway, NY
  • Your Vehicle: Front Engine Dragster
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #13 on: June 21, 2017, 01:31:38 PM »
FWIW it looks as though the crack started at about the 10 O'clock position on the last photo. Maybe use a smaller journal lightening hole. And nitride. And more generous cheek radii.
Crank was supposed to be good for 1,500 hp.

No lightening holes on the new crank.
Glenn R. Lever
Rochester, New York 14617-2012
My Cars https://www.lever-family-racing.com/

Offline coupemerc

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 307
    • View Profile
  • Your Best Time: 3.86@188 (1/8 Mile), 5.97@233 (1/4 Mile)
Re: Engine is stiff, hard to turn over???
« Reply #14 on: June 21, 2017, 02:54:38 PM »
Do yourself a favor and go through the whole motor and check EVERYTHING! Breaking a crank is about as bad as it gets. Check the main webs in the block for cracks and check the main line too. Good luck