Brand new forged build problems! Please help!

[timlowthian]

Well my two has been off the road coming up for nearly a year now the engine has been rebuilt with forged rods, pistons, acl bearings and arp bolts throughout. This was not done by me though.The engine is in the car now and built up but i have now tried to start it yet.

The problem is i cant seem to turn it over by hand??? Now i no this isnt right and dont want to start it and ruin everything. Ive taken the sump off but i dont really know what im looking at. I spoke to the person that build it for me and they have said they were turning it over by hand when building it.

Can anyone think of any thing that could be stopping it or anything i can try?? I cant afford to take it out and strip it down again!

Pretty bummed out about this tbh its looking like another 2 for the scrap heap at this point.

[Peter Gidden]

Out of interest, why do you want to turn it over by hand?

The only way i know is wheel off, and 19mm socket with extension and ratchet on the crankshaft bolt.

[timlowthian]

It is up on stands with no rear suspension or driveshafts in at the moment! I have tried to turn it over from the pulley with a 19mm socket. but it will not budge at all even when the clutch when on it had no movement.

I was under the impression i should be able to turn it over? Is that not the case?

I dont want to finish fitting all the suspension add fluids and then find its gonna damage everything when i try and turn the key?

[Peter Gidden]

You should be able to turn it over by hand. In neutral, and a lot easier if plugs out.

[timlowthian]

I haven't connected the selector cables yet i will do it to check if i knocked it into gear while fitting to be sure. Ill also try with the plugs out!

Thanks for the replies Peter!!

[Fourveesix]

Whats the engine build sheet say regarding the mains and big end oil clearances?
If it wont turn over at all, then that indicates it could be due to a tight bearing possibly.

[greeny]

Yup, should be able to spin it over by hand easily with the plugs out.

Even if it was in gear, without the shafts in, it should still spin freely.

Who built it?

[Century Motorsport]

I'd be checking for obstructions on the flywheel first....

Remove the bolts that hold the front mount onto the gearbox and also the 2 bolts that hold the slave cylinder to the gearbox too.

If these bolts are too long they will hit the ring gear and stop the motor turning...

***edit***

If the sump is off you can check there is float on the big ends. Grab the rod bolts and see if there is any sideways movement in the rod. There should be a small amount, if they are solid then there's a chance they might have the big end caps mixed up.

I'd still try the bolts mentioned above first though!

[timlowthian]

Well first off thanks for all the replies!!

Took the spark plugs out yesterday and tried to turn it over and it did eventually move a little bit but it was very tight! By this i mean we used a breaker bar and all a mates strength to rotate it a very fractional bit! So somethings defiantly not right in there.

I will have to try what you are suggesting at the weekend century!

Im guessing you would recommend taking the engine out and stripping it down to find the problem if it cant be found in situ?

The engine was built by a friend here on the isle of wight! I am VERY quickly learning why people pay specialists on here to sort it

[Century Motorsport]

I cant believe someone would build an engine and not turn it over once the cam belt has been fitted to double check the cam timing.

It might be worth asking the builder if they did this. If they did then it would indicate that it's not a motor issue and more an install issue.

[Peter Gidden]

I cant believe someone would build an engine and not turn it over once the cam belt has been fitted to double check the cam timing.

+1. If only to check cam timing is correct. Golden rule when changing belt is to turn over twice and check marks.

[timlowthian]

Yeh i have asked this and he says he was turning it over by hand when building it and to check timing which is why im confused.

It did sit under cover for a while so before being put into the car so he suggested filling it with oil and try again. With the sump off though it does seem to still be pretty oily in there though. Would it be a great waste of oil though?

[Century Motorsport]

Filling it with oil will make no difference.

It sounds like an install issue to me. In fact i'd put a pound on it being those mentioned bolts

[timlowthian]

Haha that's what i thought!

Your the expert so i really hope it is those bolts lol I will try it at the weekend and see!

[Century Motorsport]

It's the only thing I can think of that could interfere and stop the engine from turning over.

Good luck

[Driftlimits Performance]

slave bolts too!

[Century Motorsport]

Did you get to the bottom of this?

[timlowthian]

Work got really busy so havent had a chance but im now off till monday
This is my plan for today so ill be back with the results later today!

Thanks for helping and wish me luck!

[timlowthian]

Well just tried all that was suggested and nothing I took the mounts and the whole slave cylinder assembly off and it still wont turn I held the rod bolts and tried moving them and there was no movement at all either where u suggest there should be a small amount?

In all honesty what would i be looking at now? Is it a case of taking it all back out and do a complete strip down? or is there anything i could do to it in car?

[bobhatton]

Check the main bearing caps are all in order, they have to fit in the right place in the block and have numbers on them.
The same with the rod caps, they have to be with the right rod and the right way round.

You should have the chap that did the build checking this for you, did he know what he was doing?