Olds 350 question

[antmnte]

My friend has a Olds 350 for his 64 Buick wagon.Heres the story,this motor was rebuilt about 20 yrs ago all machine works done, assembled but never installed or fired.The problem is the thing wont turn its locked tight, real tight but we took off the oil pan loosened up the mains loosened up the rod ends and it still won turn.Nothing is seized, used,burnt,nothing.
Why the hell wont it turn? WHat am I missing ? Is there a common mistake when assembling Olds motors that I we have no idea about ? We didnt assemble it he bought it that way.

[squirrel]

are the heads still on it? if so it's probably got condensation in some of the cylinders, or maybe even rainwater, and rusted the rings/pistons in place.

[CTX-SLPR]

It's rebelling about being put in a Buick...

My bets are for rings rusted in place, put ATF down the spark plugs and see if it helps.

[antmnte]

No heads are off we took them off, it was stored in a dry place no rust in it at all we even took a cap off, the piston will come right out right off the crank.Im thinking It has something to do with the timing chain and the cam.It was never rotated after being assembled.When we took the lifters out the cam lube was still in the same spot no sign of it being rotated ever.
THere was another wasted Olds 350 in the wagon when he got it the original owner was a Olds mechanic thats how it ended up there.Strange but it worked.

[Beagle]

what Squirrel said makes the most sense. It only takes one stuck ring and it won't turn. Try the other seven...

if it's physical interference you would be able to turn it with the heads off and the piston would normally show a witness mark.

if it's a stuck lifter or cam it'll do the same thing but it will turn if you pull the timing chain, maybe easier than pulling the other seven caps.

You may want to just plan on taking it all apart and clean / relube / measure etc. I think after 20 years I would do that.

[A/Fuel]

How do you put an engine togather without rotating it?
A rod cap on backwards will lock it up pretty good. I'm not to framilier with those engines but if you think it's the cam or something look and see if any bolts are too long and have gone through a hole and hitting something behind.

[ss427]

One or more rings are almost for sure stuck. I've leveled each deck, soak around each piston with a
mixture of atf, and wd-40, or something similar. Soak for a day, then do the other deck. Have had
this work like a charm, with a good running, no blow-by engine a couple of times...

[antmnte]

How do you put an engine togather without rotating it?
A rod cap on backwards will lock it up pretty good. I'm not to framilier with those engines but if you think it's the cam or something look and see if any bolts are too long and have gone through a hole and hitting something behind.

I didnt build it,im thinking naturally they put the bottom end together then put the cam in put the timing chain on then it didnt rotate so it went over to the side of the garage and later never came so it sat there. Going to go over and help him with it tonight I will report back.

[antmnte]

2 rod caps mixed up. We fixed it and its good now .Thanks fellas !

[yellomalibu]

2 rod caps mixed up. We fixed it and its good now .Thanks fellas !

If it were me, I'd disassemble the whole thing to make sure nothing else was "mixed up", make sure the ring gaps aren't aligned, etc.

[min301]

If it were me, I'd disassemble the whole thing to make sure nothing else was "mixed up", make sure the ring gaps aren't aligned, etc.

Good advise.

[antmnte]

I told him to start over but he thinks it will be ok . If it was me Id take your advise but you know you can lead the horse to water.

[min301]

Live and learn...

[A/Fuel]

Rod caps will get you every time.
Probably wouldn't make it on a fuel team....LOL!