how easily should crank turn after assembly lube and torque?

[88Stangman]

Just dropped the crank in on new bearings, checked with plastigage on all journals and found .0015 on #3-4-5 and found .002 on #1&2. Right in the middle of the .001 to .003 tolerance. Removed crank and used Royal Purple Assembly Lube on all bearings and dropped crank back in. 3 stepped the torque 25 - 50 - 70 ft lbs on all main caps ( center first then out ) Now for my question, should the crank turn fairly freely on the assembly lube or should I see alot of resistance? I cannot turn it by hand. I put an old balancer on the end of the crank and used a small pipe wrench on it and can turn it with a little effort. Seems like it's too tight to me, what should I check next??

[slowfox]

On the #3 main has the thrust on it. The crank should move back and forth a few thousanths (like .008 ish it's been a while). It has almost never been an issue for me on a SBF but yours could be too tight.

The crank could also be bent slightly. ( doubt it cause it would prob just lock down)

A journal could be out of round. prob not tho


The assembly lube is prob rather thick and that will make it kinda gummy feeling when turning like it has honey in there. Mine have been assembled using reg oil cause I prime them through the dist hole right before I fire it. They will turn by hand on the snout with good effort but I usualy use a balancer bolt in the end and use a 1/2 drive ratchet to turn just to make it real easy when putting the pistons in. When I do one for some one else I use the assembly lube cause it won't run out of the journals (they prob wont prime it like me) and it is more effort to turn just the crank than I want to put into it and just have a ratchet.

[Stable]

If you did not rotate the motor between torquing each cap, then it will be very hard to turn. It is good pratice to tighten one cap, then rotate. That way you can feel if one journals is unhappy

[LKN Speed]

If you did not rotate the motor between torquing each cap, then it will be very hard to turn. It is good pratice to tighten one cap, then rotate. That way you can feel if one journals is unhappy

Yep! One journal at a time then check...you should be able to turn it by pushing on a counterweight with 2 fingers and feel no tight spots. snug #3 but dont tighten it, do the other 4. Take a rubber or plastic mallet and give the crank a couple halfway decent hits forward and back to seat the thrust bearing. Now using a screwdriver or pry bar, lightly pry the crank forward and while holding it, torque #3. end clearance from .004-.008 will be fine.
Make sure you dont have a cap on backwards- bearing notches in caps always on same side as notches in block...this is also true on the rods.......