How hard should it be to turn over a fresh big block by hand?

I was always told a short block should turn over with 40 ft. lbs. of torque or less. Dog turd seal versus rubber makes a little difference.

Sounds to tight to me. We are building this 451 for my sons car and its easy to turn with a 1/2" ratchet that's about 12" long. How much crank end play did it have. When we first put the crank in my sons I noticed it was tight as I can usually always turn just the crank by grabbing the front of it with my hand and turn it. After I recentered the thrust bearing it got easier. But it had only about .001 end play. So I took the thrust bearing back out and used emory paper on a flat steel bench and sanded the sides to get .005 end play and it turned with ease by hand with just the crank in it. I always turn the eng over fully after each piston to make sure none make it tight. Do you have the cam in it ? As I had a tight cam on my eng back in 2011 and had to fix that from some flashing that got behind a cam bearing. But honestly that sounds to tight compared to all the engines I have done. Good luck with it , Ron

This thread was originally posted Jun 15, 2011 either it's already been fixed or it's already grenaded... Cause it surely wouldn't run very long like that..

For future reference. With only the crank and pistons/rings installed in my race motor. It can be turned by grasping the crank snout with one hand. It has .9 mm rings, light tension 3mm oil ring. However with plugs and valve train it's all you can do to turn it with a 2ft long ratchet. And then only about a 1/8 turn at a time. 15-1, 300#/800# spring pressure, roller cam, T&D needle bearing rockers. It's hard to believe the stock mini starter has survived for 7 years.
Doug

1 Wild R/T said:

This thread was originally posted Jun 15, 2011 either it's already been fixed or it's already grenaded... Cause it surely wouldn't run very long like that..

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Yep my fault! I randomly happened across it and replied back in post #18..I hate when I do that!

tag said:

I just buttoned up the bottom end of my freshly machined, 0.030 over 440, and this piston/ring kit: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/UEM-KB237KTM030/

How hard should it be to turn over? It was a little easier yesterday, but after it sat in the shop all night it takes most my weight at the end of a 2' breaker bar to move the son of a bitch.

I have really no idea what to expect, since this is my first engine build.

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My 509 rb short block, no heads, but cam installed took 36 lbs on torque wrench to turn over on the stand, did not have the heads on yet, I was just making sure all was loose and not binding anywhere. Dave