cannot turn over crankshaft !

[Aurora_GL]

so first major issue, i cannot seem to move the crank with even a breaker bar with the wheels off the ground. car is in Neutral and the timing belt is off, the cam spins without touching pistons, the intermediate gear moves and oil pump is freely going. everything was well lubed and pre oiled when assembled, spun completely a few times after the pan was on and the head was off. havent cranked the engine since its been in the car that i remember, now i cant move it at all... now what should i do next?

i replaced every thing in the long block and all parts moved before install and sitting...i almost got 1/4 turn on the crank bolt tourquing with no movement. obviously thats not good at this point since it shouldve moved alot right?


i can take off the pan to looksee...but im not sure what to look for. my first engine build, followed the bentley putting it all together. nothing i can think of with it out of gear and the wheels up.
please help!

[Aurora_GL]

is there a clearance issue using a aba oil pump on a digi block??@?@?

[LowlyOilBurner]

I'll bet that is your issue. I would start there.

[Aurora_GL]

Originally Posted by LowlyOilBurner

I'll bet that is your issue. I would start there.

yeah since i put that on im not sure if i spun it and if the crank is hitting the back of the pump at all it wont turn anymore... i was looking at some build pics and it may be it.

[Haenszel]

Originally Posted by Aurora_GL

yeah since i put that on im not sure if i spun it and if the crank is hitting the back of the pump at all it wont turn anymore... i was looking at some build pics and it may be it.

you're not running an ABA crank are you? -- if so the inside of the block has t be clearance for the rod caps and the counterweights. It sucks.

[Aurora_GL]

Originally Posted by Haenszel

you're not running an ABA crank are you? -- if so the inside of the block has t be clearance for the rod caps and the counterweights. It sucks.

no its all stock 1.8 digi block and rods rings with the added ABA pump

[Aurora_GL]

i dont see the issue, i did loosen the rod caps and i can turn the crank slowly with the breaker bar. tighten them up and no dice. standard crank, standard bearings. WTF?

[Haenszel]

Originally Posted by Aurora_GL

i dont see the issue, i did loosen the rod caps and i can turn the crank slowly with the breaker bar. tighten them up and no dice. standard crank, standard bearings. WTF?

did you use assembly lube on both the main bearings, rod bearings and piston wristpins? Not oil. Assembly lube.

Also what are you torquing the mains and rods to? -- did you re-use the stock VW rods? Are they like ABA/AEG/1.8t rods where they are broken apart and are 1-time use?(part where rod cap and rod meet look to be "broken" from eachother which is done during the initial factory install process. Not a clean break.

[Dubinbuffalo]

Originally Posted by Haenszel

did you use assembly lube on both the main bearings, rod bearings and piston wristpins? Not oil. Assembly lube.

Also what are you torquing the mains and rods to? -- did you re-use the stock VW rods? Are they like ABA/AEG/1.8t rods where they are broken apart and are 1-time use?(part where rod cap and rod meet look to be "broken" from eachother which is done during the initial factory install process. Not a clean break.

I really don't think that forgetting to use assembly lube would cause this problem. The breaker bar would have overcome the little bit of friction IMHO. Sounds like something is actually hitting/binding in there.

[Haenszel]

Originally Posted by Dubinbuffalo

I really don't think that forgetting to use assembly lube would cause this problem. The breaker bar would have overcome the little bit of friction IMHO. Sounds like something is actually hitting/binding in there.

the combination of no assembly lube and overtorque will do wonders.

I've had people not be able to turn an 8v CAM over beacuse they didn't use assembly lube... and thats just a 5-cap cam w/thinner journals.... not 9 thick journals.