cwigg66

Alright guys... I have a big problem. Let me give you some background real quick. I spent the last weekend doing waterpump, timing and balance belts, reinstalling turbo... now the car is back together and the motor will not turn over. After replacing the belts and before I went after the oil leak from under the turbo, the motor with fresh belts and water pump turned over fine by hand. Now it is frozen... both directions. I am 99% sure the timing is fine (no valve contact) as the engine turned over fine by hand after I put the new belts on. I then let it sit for a week before I could do the turbo oil leak stuff. Why the hell is it stuck now? I am totally out of ideas. The starter is fine. I have the plugs out and starter off now and it still won't budge. If it were a valve, wouldn't it turn backwards? Please help
Chris

cwigg66

Also, when I went to start it for the first time before finding out it was seized the starter didn't even turn it one tooth... no movement at all.

cwigg66

Also, to avoid the obvious responses... no, the car is not in gear. Additionally, I just pulled the cambelt off... the cam turns freely all the way around.... meaning none of the pistons are at TDC or close enough to contact any valves. SO, what else can it be?

cwigg66

Ok.. another quick question before I take bat to this stupid thing. Suppose there was a bolt stuck in between the flywheel and the bellhousing.... how hard would that be to fix?

Matt H

How did you line up the belts if nothing is at TDC?

If there was a bolt stuck there you would need to fish it out or remove the bellhousing (might as well do the clutch).
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clubracer6

There are a few possibilities. I had this same issue myself. A piston simply siezed up in it's tracks. My old theads on this have photo's of the damage. I hope your situation is a lot different....

Dal Heger

Why would there be a bolt in the bell housing? Did you drop something in there?

Hmm, good question. There isn't anything that you have said you did that would lock it up like that. Even if the clutch was sticking, and the car was in gear, the engine should still move when you bump that starter.

I don't know. Sorry.

I'd look for something stuck somewhere (like the bell housing).
You did say that after you did the belts (and tightened everything up) you turned the engine over, right?

Dal.

moreboost

i like dal's question. did it spin when you were done, after everything was tightened up? one time i forgot the woodruf key in one of the balance shaft gears, and the balance shaft wouldnt budge. i also couldnt tighten it down the 35 ft/lbs. its kind of a long shot, but still...

take care,
brian

cwigg66

everything spun fine when I was done

Jeremy Himsel

Here's something that you can check that should only take you a few minutes.

I know "this guy" who installed the timing gear on the crank backwards. It turned over about ten times and then was frozen solid. The ridge of the gear was binding up against the oil pump. Check to be sure that the raised edge/lip of the gear is not facing towards the engine.

jimbo1111

I find it hard to believe that the cam spins freely with out interference.
Is the key way still there?

Peckster

Hard to understand why it would freeze up.

I would not have taken the cam belt off, if you manage to free it you'll bend a valve now. That can happen even when rotating the engine by hand.

How are you going to retime it?

Matt H

I know "this guy"
YEAH, we ALL know a guy!!!

jimbo, I am with you, it is bitch to turn that cam
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Peckster

Pistons don't seize on their own without the engine running, unless they rust in place over a few years.

cwigg66

Hye guys... thanks for all the great input. After getting totally frustrated and using almost every curse word I could think of, I tried to remove the crank pulley and timing/balance sprockets. In doing so, the crankshaft broke free and turned a bit. It also made a distinct "cliink clink" sound from the top of the bell housing. Sure enough, either mysefl or one of my cohorts dropped a damned bolt in the TDC window. I was relieved but also really annoyed. At least now I don't have to set the car on fire Thanks again
Chris