* HELP * My .318 will no longer turn over!!!

[cv70chall]

Hi everyone-
I have an issue with my project that I hope I can get some guidance with.
I have a 70 Challenger with a 318 that has been in the shop for the past 3 years getting restored. It's been a long drawn out process- as we came across things that we decided to replace one after the other.
The car ran fine when we started and was obviously driven at all whilst in the shop. We recently completed the body work and tried to turn the engine over with no luck. New battery- starter checks out fine- and we inspected the motor/ cylinders and found no evidence of any water or moisture. When we try to turn it over, we get a click. When we try a pry bar to move her, we get little if any give (motion).
Any ideas on what we can check? This vehicle has been indoors being worked on and there should not be any issue with seizure.

*** HELP!! ***
Any ideas, tips or witchcraft I might be able to try???
It hurts to get this close to being "done" and have this happen.
Thanks!
Chuck
561-603-6103

[360 'CUDA]

Can you turn the crank by hand?  Put a breaker bar and socket on the front of the crank, it should move easily. If not it's an engine problem

 If it's a electrical problem check the battery cable ends and the wires connections on the relay.  Does it turn over when you jump the relay with a screwdriver?

If it does the problem might be the ignition switch in the column

Check out the fusible link and tighten up the screws on the relay.  The fusible link is problematic and needs to have clean connections

I'm just guessing but these are the things that go bad first

[72bluNblu]

A "click"?

Usually that means one of the following-

1. Insufficient voltage to run the starter (drained/bad battery)
2. Bad solenoid
3. Bad starter
4. Bad/loose connection to any of the above

Has the battery (even though its new) been sitting for awhile? If it has it may have sulfated, even new batteries can do this if not charged one way or another for a few months.

[dodge freak 2]

Welcome to the broken motor club


You sure you are trying to turn the motor by using the crank bolt, its the only sure way.  Takes a lot with the spark plugs in.

Was there enough oil in it. My brother used to be an "expert" on locking motors up by running them dry. Doesn't take long at all for one bearing to freeze up

[cv70chall]

We tried turning the crank...No luck.
Plenty of oil in the motor- NO water in the cylinders- no evidence of moisture anywhere.
Fuseable links/ connections/ starter solenoid/ starter are all good.
Brand new battery in the car.

We're letting it sit with some PV Blaster in the cylinders and we plan on trying again tomorrow. Someone said to try vinegar in there?

Any other ideas? This just does not make sense...

[360 'CUDA]

Maybe someone in the shop took it out for a little fun before the restoration began??

[cv70chall]

I wish that was the case! LOL.

[dodge freak 2]

Hmm, I PM you before reading this. Yeah the spray oil in the cylinders might do it.

Kind of doubt a bearing froze up just sitting cause oil is trap in the bearings. The walls can run dry of oil and start to rust.

Just sitting in cold to warm temps over and over will get moister to form on the cylinder walls. Why they sell fogging oil to store engines for long times. 

[dutch]

9 out of 10 times the piston is stuck to the rod when it won`t turn over

[burdar]

Any chance a mouse or two made a home in a cylinder?  There are pics floating around of huge nests found inside engines that have sat around for awhile.

[Strawdawg]

If the starter checks out fine, I assume that it was removed to be certain it was not stuck in the ring gear?

[Chryco Psycho]

was the engine filled with water & possibly left outside to freeze , it happens constantly around here , it could split a cylinder wall