I just finished swapping this 400 "ford" for another 400 in a 78 Bronco. I had to tourch the converter studs out in order to get the engine out. Replaced the tq converter with one from a 78 LTD and replaced the flywheel with a one from a 72 ltd. As far as I know these should be the the same parts they looked identical and the junkyard said they will work. Its all back togather and now will not turn over. It will crank slightly with the ignition one tooth at a time but wont crank! I pulled the plugs and tryed cranking it "water maybee" and got the same results. I tryed turning it over with a socket and I cant. This engine should be good the junk yard swears by it and they claimed to have had it running a day before they yanked it last week.
I need some ideas on what it might be, this is the second engine this turd is getting in 3 months and I'm not going to be happy if this engine is sized.

Thanks!!

 

sounds like its siezed to me, you might try putting a few drops of oil down into each cylinder and see if that loosens up the rings any. I doub't it will help but its worth a try.

 

Try unbolting the converter from the flex plate...

 

Another mechanic suggested that I unbolt the converter but the problem is this POS has studs so even if I unbolted the converter I couldent turn it. I do know it the converter was turning because I had to allign the drain plug and studs with the flexplate. I pulled the plugs and sprayed PB down each cylinder. I'm going to work on it latter today or have the junk yard to it over and swap another engine in. I'm going to be pissed if I get stuck putting yet another engine in.
Thanks guys!

 

one of fords better ideas, studs on the TC instead of the nuts and bolts us gm guys are use to. i just got done dealing with a locked up 289 i was rebuilding and trying to get the nuts off the studs and no room for a wrench. it sounds locked to me too, try spinning it by hand, with a breaker bar on the crank bolt. if it spins i'd be looking at a battery or starter problem.