big problem... engine wont rotate

[brother-moe]

long story short, i have an 84 b2, 2.8, 4x4, 5 speed, etc.. i toasted the engine after replacing the clutch and flywheel, so i bought an 85 b2 with a rebuilt 2.8, 4x4, and bad auto trans.. i took off the torq converter, flex plate, and that dumb spacer. then i put on my flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate. now upon reassembly, i cant seem to get the engine to rotate.

so after taking off my driveline, transfer case, y-pipe, and ( after driving an hour away to buy a new tranny jack) the trans, the engine rotates fine. then i put my trans back on, and again, no rotating. so after spilling all my new gear oil on myself and the carport floor, im almost ready to give up. i work all day and by the time i get home have no day light, and have reserve duty next weekend, so i try to get as much done today and seems like i just moved back to square one. with a 2 ton paperweight.

so, the main details, engine alone will rotate just fine by the crank shaft pully bolt, but with the trans on, it will not. i dont see any evidence on the tranny of binding metal, but it also was getting dark. any help would be greatly appreiciated. ill answer any questions the best i can, because i am so close to scrapping this project... thanks in advance

 

[wrecking-crew]

Was the trans in gear? Do the trans input/output shafts even rotate?

 

[brother-moe]

trans was in neutral, and shafts do rotate, i drove the b2 for about a year and half, so i know the trans is good.

 

[gribly]

Did you re-use the spacer? My 4.0/M5OD has one.

 

[brother-moe]

no, i left the spacer out, as my engine didnt have one when i took it out.. it looks like the flywheel has enough offset to not need a spacer. ill try to take a picture tomorrow when i get off work. im tempted to remove engine, again, and bolt it to the trans on the ground and have a better looksie at it.. its a pita to keep lifting the trans in while in the b2.

 

[adsm08]

Put the clutch on, then remove the bell from the trans, bolt it up and see if the engine will spin over with just the bell housing.

Also, make sure the T-case isn't bound up.

 

[GoodOld85BlueBalls]

I had the same thing happen once on an 292y block Ford. I somehow mixed up the bolts and put the bolt for the starter, which was longer in one of the bell housing mounting holes. It went in far enough to hit the flywheel and block it in place. Perhaps you have the wrong bolt in one hole?

 

[brother-moe]

thanks for all the questions. it made me think and i decided to pull my clutch and flywheel, and my dumb ass did in fact put the spacer in.. but good news is i also found the shorter bolts for the flywheel..
*and pressure plate was hitting the throw out bearing arm that goes in the bellhousing

 

[brother-moe]

now, just need to get my torq wrench back from my pops and start re-torquing my bolts.. and get this beast back on the road, then sell it.. just kidding. my mom wants it so ill have it whenever i want to use it..

but im pretty close to having my duraspark wired in and my other wires hooked up.. just need to figure out where the vacuum goes on the carb from the distributor..(input here would be greatly appriciated again!!! thanks!!)

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

People will dicker for eons about whether ported or manifold vacuum works better.

Ported is the nipple on the front that is mounted higher than the other one (which is manifold) Most OEM setups runn ported, it works great on my 302.