Stuck 440 engine update

Hello out there.... so here's the progress on my '67 Plymouth wagon with a stuck 440. I pulled out the radiator, belts, shroud, and fan to get access to the big nut on the end of the crank. I was able to move it back and forth about 8" (on an 18" cheater bar), or about 1/8 revolution. Too much pressure counter clockwise loosens the nut, and I can't get any more the other way. What does this mean?
Happy New Year! (not for me)

 

So, there was a nut on each end of the cheater bar and nothing really moved much? I'd stop before something really moves in a bad way! Yank that pan and peek up there to see if you can find something broken, bent, or badly rusted. This wagon was parked for some reason. A bad engine could have been it!
Another 440 story: Son just got another 40' motorhome free with a 440 engine that hasn't been run for years. No fuel tank in it even. 30,000 plus miles on it. They put in a battery and used a six gallon boat tank in hopes to start it and drive 40+ miles to tear it down to build a mud truck. That's what rednecks do around here!
In a few cranks to prime carb it fired right up and they drove merrily down the highway! 440's do run. Son said it was amazing the power it had in that 40' box!
Keep checking and replace what's broken and you will someday be happy with your 440 powered wagon.

 

Hi - supposedly the guy just finished rebuilding it shortly before he parked it. I can tell the engine has been out; he was a mechanic & owned his own gas station. The son said he parked it because of either a carb problem or something. But all that was 10-15 years ago....

 

Moisture can do terrible things to metal parts after the lubricant is no longer protecting it. 10-15 years can leave things bare and dry.
I'd first check after the pan is removed to see if you can find where it can be frozen up or very rusty. Better to spend some time and money to hopefully cure this problem rather than create even more. Those 440's aren't cheap to work on. Good luck. You have another year ahead just to work on your wagon.
Maybe you have friends who can help see what's wrong.

 

Thanks.,... I'll look at the pan situation tomorrow. On my '60 Fury, there is no way to drop the pan since a crossmember goes across it...

 

Jacking up the motor and cutting a couple-three 2x4's to length, and putting them near the disconnected motor mounts, will usually give you enough room to remove any oil pan!
That's how I've seen dealership mechanics do it on RWD cars, anyway!

Back in '67, the first 2000 Cadillacs were assembled with the rings installed upside down!
These things smoked like 200k miles, coming off the transport!!
We had two techs that'd do a car a day, one sitting on the core support, and the book time was 36 hours!
First thing they'd do was the above!

 

Good grief!!! Upside down rings from the factory???? Fix-it time at 36 hours each??? It's no wonder GM needed a bail-out! I'll sell the car before I go to that much work; it's too bad, because looking at the car, it appears ready to drive away. I thought it'd be easier to get running... Live & learn...
Thanks for your input!

 

I don't know the answer to this problem but it sounds to me like some thing is broken inside this engine...thrown rod or something that is stopping the engine from turning. If it was me I would not try to turn the engine any further and open it up to see what the problem is. Trying to force it to turn could possibly ruin the engine.

 

I agree with you....think I'll quit trying while I'm ahead!

Thanks...

 

Pull the intake 'n heads. I know it's ah PITA but you've come this far and all 5 of the gaskets(intake, heads, exhaust) are cheap to put it back together. I wouldn't be surprised if you don't have ah mouse house in one of those cylinders! The building material those furry little guyz use doesn't compress too well!

 

Either end will be work you didn't plan on. But removing the carb, manifold, and heads may be the easiest. At least you will be standing--sort of! If everything looks good then remove the pan. You did mention mousies inside the wagon. Maybe some moved into the engine.
I don't know how old you are, but I'm guessing you have plenty of time. Maybe not the money or the ambition but when it's running you will be grinnin from ear to ear!
:banana:

 

Well, I'm 55.....so time is kinda running out! Wish I were a better mechanic, and had the shop space. I'd LOVE to hear that 440 roar to life! But alas, it won't be me that hears it - it's on eBay now....
Thanks for your input...

 

Time is NOT runing out you young whipper snapper! If you are not going to fix that engine buy a smaller size that runs and swap it into your wagon. You've still got 45 years to play with it.

 

Time is running out at 55?!?
Dayum. I must be dead!

 

Me too. I've got a snot-nosed kid that's 53! Hope you are recuperating fine foxy! I'm packing to go to Oregon to steal parts off those moss covered cars!