rebuilt engine REALLY tight.

[37coop]

hi guys ,my 51 .f1 engine has just been rebuilt 30 over with new shells ,bearings pistons ,rings etc ,I,v got it back from the engineer and will soon be starting to put on the heads ,manifold and the bits and pieces but before I put the heads on I need a bit of advice from the barn.the engine is very tight ,I can turn it over with a spanner from the front with effort but with the heads on and plugs in I think it will be a big problem to turn it over even though its on 12 volt .is it normal to have such a tight engine after a rebuild?,i was of course expecting tighter but this seems a bit extreme , this is new to me and out of my comfort zone so I wouldn't know if its normal and also if it wont turn enough to start on the button what should I do? also should I grease the bores before putting on the heads ?
I,v been playing with "our" cars for 35 years but never had a new engine , any advice would be appreciated,many thanks jim.

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

NO, that's not normal. My engines will turn over with the heads off with a 1/2in. ratchet on the crank with very little drag. Your bound to get some ring drag but what you say you have to use a long bar to turn it over. What does you machinist that built it say about it? Walt

[Brendan]

37 coop, don't use any grease in the cylinders, they should have a very light coat of oil

[Ol' Ron]

The seals can really bind up an engine, if mot installed properly. If in doubt remove the pan and front cover if a stock seal was used. them loosen the rear maim. If it'd still tight , it has a bobo somewhere.

[LOWRIDER]

X2 what Ron said. When all that was available for Yblocks were rope rear seals I used to leave the rear seal loose because of the drag it would put on the crank.

[37coop]

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Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me.

NO, that's not normal. My engines will turn over with the heads off with a 1/2in. ratchet on the crank with very little drag. Your bound to get some ring drag but what you say you have to use a long bar to turn it over. What does you machinist that built it say about it? Walt

hello walt , its not a long bar I used but a normal 1/2 inch ratchet and it did turn but needed a hefty pull ,I will take note of what has been said and delay putting the heads on till I,m happy all is correct ,I was told sometimes 24 volts is needed to give it the first start ,as I said this situation is all new to me ,thanks jim.

[37coop]

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

The seals can really bind up an engine, if mot installed properly. If in doubt remove the pan and front cover if a stock seal was used. them loosen the rear maim. If it'd still tight , it has a bobo somewhere.

hello ron , the sump(oil pan) is not on the engine so the rear seal is not pinched up yet and the front seal is one of those new neoprene things ,I will investigate before putting the heads on , many thanks jim.

[V8COOPMAN]

Jim (37coop)...Maybe you AND Walt could talk in terms of foot pounds/torque (with a torque wrench) required to turn similar, new assemblies. I think only then can you make reasonable comparisons with what may be "too tight", or not. DD

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Jim, seeing that the bass is off, grab onto the rod bolts with your fingers and see if you can move the rods back and forth. There should be a little side play that you can feel by moving the rod back and forth with your hand. If that seems ok loosen the main brg bolts one at a time and see if it feels better. Walt

[chap52]

May have a rod cap on wrong?

[scooder]

Jim, whoever told you 24 volts is sometimes needed is wrong, very wrong. A properly rebuilt engine should start on its original volts. If it won't spin on its original volts ( obviously this means a good battery with the right cranking amps) it's to tight, should be fairly easy to turn with no sump or heads on. If it ain't somethings up. As has been said, could have a cap on arse about face. But whatever it is, it needs sorting.
In your situation I'd start with the engine upside down, loosen a cap, have a feel if it frees it up some. If not, tighten him back up. Go to the next And repeat. This should find the problem child.
Hope you find its something simple.
Good luck
Keep us posted.
Martin.

[Jack E/NJ]

Do it by ear. Put the starter in and battery crank it with the heads off or plugs out. A decent 12volt battery should spin that sucker pretty fast. You'll know right away if its not right.

Jack E/NJ

[B-O-B]

I'd be very careful spinning that over without lubrication. I believe he said the sump was off.

[bluardun]

Walts' suggestion about checking the bearing clearances is a good one. With the 8BA engines there should NOT be any oil between the bearings, the caps or block; only between the bearings and the crank. Should you find a bearing too tight clean the outer surface of the bearing and the inner surface of the caps. The slightest amount of oil in the wrong place will cause big problems.
Now is the time to check things out. The 24 volt thing is nuts.

[Russ/40]

Originally Posted by bluardun

there should NOT be any oil between the bearings, the caps or block; ..........The slightest amount of oil in the wrong place will cause big problems.

Wow, now I've heard everything.

[Jack E/NJ]

Yeah. But maybe he meant causing big problems in taking a measurement? Or maybe not ---in which case then I guess I've now heard almost everything too! 8^)

Jack E/NJ

[dude]

Put a torque wrench on it and get a reading. What may be quit a tug for some may not be too much for others. I'm thinking it took 40 lb. Much more than that and I'd be concerned. I always used assemby lube on the bearing and oil on pistons.

[Jack E/NJ]

Yeah, assembly lube, oil covering everything & gravity feeding a quart or so of oil thru a funnel into the guage hole in the block before attempting to run it.

Jack E/NJ

[scooder]

Originally Posted by Russ/40

Wow, now I've heard everything.

I fear that you ain't? Heard it all.

[flatjack9]

Do you have 3 or 4 ring pistons? 4 ring pistons will have a pretty good drag. As has been said, you need to get a torque reading. Everyone has a different perception of what is a lot of drag.