To the list & all who responded with suggestions, thanks.
Got some time to attack the problem, with some help, we found that the
flywheel moved slightly, but the harmonic balancer at the other end did
not even quiver. Initial diagnosis was a broken crank, no X-mas presents
for the grandkids. Well, I wouldn't really short change the little
ones....
Decided that 30 degrees of crankshaft rotation, via the starter motor,
was not enough to develop the required momentum to break that great big
lump of steel, whatever stopped it. Next step was to pull the pan. This
proved to be suprisingly easy, considering I have a chrome bumper front
crossmember. The pan came out with the gasket intact, so I figure I'm on
a roll. Got the drop light, close visual inspection, nothing out of
place. No big rocks wedged next to the crank, or any nuts or bolts.
Really on a roll, now.
Well, how about some real fun. Pull the tranny. Engine still locked up.
More fun, pull the bellhousing. Engine still locked up. Visual shows
nothing wrong, nothing on the other side of the flywheel that I can see
or feel. Engine still locked up, the roll is slowing down. Nothing to
loose, off comes the clutch disk & pressure plate. IT MOVES! the engine,
that is. Turns freely by hand on the flywheel 'till compression comes
up, then an assist from Mr. Wrench is required, but still an easy turn.
And NO, the clutch disk was not on backwards (mine was marked "this side
toward engine"). Just for fun, I decided to remove the flywheel too.
Don't know what was wrong. No pieces fell out, nothing broken. Clutch
looks fine as does everything else. Reassembled the flywheel, clutch &
bellhousing, turning the engine to check at each step. Everything seems
fine. Ran out of time, so the tranny is not in yet. That should be next
Sat. I will give all the nuts & bolts a check, & see if it will start &
run. Don't see any reason it won't.
At some time in my life I must have angered the Great God Mowog, & this
is payback. I can't think of anything else.
Jim Stuart
looking for a cheap rubber bumper B with a perfect body & no drive train
in the DC area- time to start another V8.
also, a Buick 4-speed bellhousing.
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