New Rebuilt Engine - Pistons not moving

[Bill G]

I am wondering about two things that are being said. (1) The dimple is not very apparent on some cars. The dimple in the timing gears tend to be shallow and the timing pins tend to be blunt. In other words, when the pin drops into the dimple it can be oh so subtle. (2) looking down the spark plug hole, the piston is not right below the hole. It is at an angle to the front of the hole and towards the left side of the car. Use a bright flashlight. You can also verify that the timing gear is moving by observing the rotation of the distributor shaft. Like has been said; on a recently rebuilt engine, it seems unlikely that the pistons are not moving up and down as you crank. On the off chance that is the case, the next stop should be back to the rebuilder.

[Patrick L.]

Originally Posted by Synchro909

The OP has only 2 posts. Is this thread serious or is he just stirring us up?

Ya, that really can't happen. I'm thinking it's a prank, or, the crank isn't going in the ratchet as it should.
If this a real post maybe he doesn't know how else to find the dimple.

[Ramman]

To me, this thread has went to yadda yadda yadda until we hear back from the original poster. Perhaps too embarrassed to reply?

[Tacoma Bob]

Interesting for sure as he is in our club roster and probably lives 20 minutes away.

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by Tacoma Bob

Interesting for sure as he is in our club roster and probably lives 20 minutes away.

Give him a call and tell him to come back to the forum!

[Ed in Maine]

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I agree with the other comments, most unlikely that the engine pistons are not moving but the crank can be turned. However, a newly rebuiilt engine, that wasn't lubricated and turned by hand by hand every month spells trouble. I experienced a seized rebuiilt engine that was stored for two years. This engine was stuck big time! My rebuilder chastised me for letting it sit for so long. This is what I did to get things moving again:
1. Put Marvel Mystery Oil in each cylinder.
2. Used a 12 volt battery out of my Toyota.
3. Hooked the car up to a John Deere tractor using low gear.
4. With the car in neutral, got the car slowly rolling.
5. Shifted into first gear and very, very carefully started to let out the clutch. I could hear the clutch start to engage.
6. Then with the clutch partially engaged, I hit the starter button. The hood was off so I could see the fan. When the starter bumped the engine, it started to turn and I let the clutch all the way out. We towed the car for about a mile. You never heard so much yelling and laughter, I was so happy.

I thought that was going to be the end of the tight engine but it wasn't. I had to go throuh this procedure for several days when all of a sudden the car turned over with the starter normally. After this I got the car ready to run on gasoline. Initially I ran the car for very short periods 5-8 minutes and then cooled the engine. Also torqued the head after each trial. The today runs just perfectly. Good luck, Ed

[Ed in Maine]

I have another recommendation concerning the timing pin issue. Take all the plugs out and rotate (that is after you get the engine moving) the engine until you feel air blowing out number one cylinder (the compression stroke), then watch the piston and when it gets to the top of the cylinder (and then some slight amount), stop turning. You are at top dead center on number one. Forget the timing pin. Ed

[J Franklin]

He said the pistons don't move, that is the mystery. Finding TDC. is not.

[Tacoma Bob]

Originally Posted by J Franklin

Give him a call and tell him to come back to the forum!

I reached out via e-mail.

[1crosscut]

He hasn't been back on the site since 10 minutes after he posted.

[CarlG]

Give him time. It took him 7 years after his first post to make this post,

[1crosscut]

True

[Mundrwood]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will get into the shop today. No time until today due to the Holiday.

Mark

[Mundrwood]

What a Cluster, I am novice mechanic at best.
1. Confirmed crankshaft was moving via oil filler tube- good tip.
2. I was looking at the valve vs. piston head as one responder suggested.
3. Panic set in when the distributor was not turning and I couldn't find the timing gear dimple as I had not turned over the engine in some months.
4. Turns out I forgot the lower distributor shaft when I put the distributor on.
5. The dimple is very vague but I found it finally.
I am sorry if I wasted people's time, I guess live and learn. I mess around with these cars to relieve stress from my job which has been elevated during the pandemic, maybe someday the damn thing will run again.

Mark Underwood

[1crosscut]

You didn't waste anyone's time. Glad that you came back and let us know what you found. You are not the first person nor the last to forget to put in the lower shaft. I've found myself on a couple of occasions forgetting to put the rotor back into the distributor and then wonder why suddenly there is no spark.

The dimples can be awfully small on the new timing gears. In the future use a small / short phillips screw driver to find the dimple instead of the timing pin.
Works for me.

[nkaminar]

Hi Mark,

I am glad things worked out. Don't be embarrassed, we have all been neophytes at one time.

Owners will drill the dimple deeper when they get new timing gears.

[Y-Blockhead]

The dimple on my Town Sedan is a PITA to find. I finally installed a Nu-Rex timing indicator so I don't have to deal with it

[jeepguy1948]

Blockhead’s post is what Idid as well

[aermotor]

Originally Posted by Y-Blockhead

The dimple on my Town Sedan is a PITA to find. I finally installed a Nu-Rex timing indicator so I don't have to deal with it

Paint the dimple with red nail polish then look for it with a mirror and flashlight while turning the engine over.

[nkaminar]

Y-Blockhead, I assume you have fixed the hand crank guide and U bolts for the front spring. I had to get a used guide as the repos require a different U bolt. I had to do some grinding on my guide to get it to fit.