440 engine! !side item Starter stuck..!!!11/26 Not anymore, Now Videos

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Something that may sound strange but How easy should a 440, without any spark plugs installed , be to turn over by hand or with the starter.?   I am having some difficulty.  It has been idle for about a year.  Oil changed recently, valve covers removed and there was oil on the rockers so I don't think it is dry. Stumped.............thanks for any information...........David

[4Cruizn]

Should be real easy with a starter and not too difficult by hand  . . no compression!   

[Alaskan_TA]

If it sat that long there may be some light rust on the cylinder walls? 

Barry

[Jacksboys]

If it sat that long there may be some light rust on the cylinder walls? 

Barry

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Additional information..........I can turn the engine over with the harmonic balancer nut/wrench deal.  I believe I have a starter problem and not a stuck engine.   IDEAS.......

[Bullitt-]

Others with similar issues ended up having weak battery or poor connections. Did your starter work OK before?

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

WE think we have narrowed it down to a stuck starter.  I will work on that one afternoon this week.  I was looking forward to starting it but just have to wait...............

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Alright...........I took the two bolts holding the starter to the bell housing out and slid the starter away from the flywheel.........Still engages the bendix BUT will not turn.  There are a set of headers on the engine now > There is no way to get the starter out of the cavity it is in without doing something drastic.  Does anyone know how to unlock a stuck starter without having to remove it completely.  In other words are there any quick fixes anyone knows about?  Thanks, David

[bb71challenger]

Whack the housing with a hammer. If that dont do it then get a mini starter and never look back 

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Whack the housing with a hammer. If that dont do it then get a mini starter and never look back 

 

 I know it sounds crazy, but I had to give my old starter a few whacks to motivate it.  That's a temporary fix though. It really should be replaced. You have to loosen the header from the heads to get it to slide out. The mini-starter will be a little easier to put back in, but depending on the headers you have, it might be a bit too wide. I had to make a indentation on my Headman's to get the mini-in there. Love to use my hammer!!   

  Mike

[RUSTY Cuda]

I must have been lucky, I got the old full size out & the mini in my 74(360) throught the inspection(mud flap) hole!!!!!! not sure what kind of headers are on it? Rich.

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Well I wacked it with a hammer................still won't spin.  And there is no opening big enough to get it out...........I am going to loosen the header but there is only 1/4" clearance now between the header and the steering box.   I am facing pulling the engine.  I really don't want to do that. I know  that that is the best way to get the bay painted the proper color too.          So many choices...........So many opportunities...............

[bb71challenger]

should be able to jack up one side of the engine with the shroud taken out. I know in my case, pulling standard headers is a lot easier doing it from the bottom than trying to pull it out the top. Sorry you have to pull the starter out, it is times like these that make headers a pain but they are worth it imo.

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Well another chapter............ I took the nuts off the studs holding the header on.  As I mentioned there is only 1/4" clearance between the header and the steering box.  The studs are at least 3/4" long.  This does not compute..........Now I think I will loosen the steering box....Strange bolt heads...........Trox I think.  No sockets to fit.  This is a growing pain I guess everyone goes thur sometimes.  I am just wondering how much more I can remove before I really mess up something.............

[RUSTY Cuda]

Wish I knew more bout 440's, I just put my headers in from the bottom (360 eng)& then put the starter in with no problem from the bottom, I'm sure you crawled under , but it seems a bit weird that there's no way out for the starter? Rich.