sounds like something has come adrift inside the engine,crank thrust washer maybe ?
Hi, recently fitted a 1360 xflow in place of the 1.1, was having trouble getting it to fire up, but after discovering the timing was 180 deg out and we had the wrong spark plugs(duh) we finally got it to run, but as the starter got slower due to running the battery down, it became stuck, well this is what we thought, kept trying the key and just clonking. i got fed up with it and went out for the day, when came back, i tried it and it turned over, but today it did it again, i have a starter on the way because i assumed it was the starter getting jammed, so i took the old one out today and rocked the car back and forth in gear but the engine wont crank over! i don't know why because i was rocking it back and forth earlier to bring the timing mark round on the pulley, but now it wont move, i have taken off the rocker shaft, just incase it's that getting jammed, but no, taken the dizzy out, don't know if it would make a difference, but at this point i'll try anything.
does the car rock back and forth with
a- clutch depressed
b- out of gear
Are the plugs in? You might just be rocking against cylinder compression. Especially if you've removed the rocker shaft as you'll have closed all the valves.
Hi, the car will roll back and forth freely with the clutch depressed or out of gear yes.
Plugs are out.
Sorry but it really sounds like it is seized solid. If it were water in the bores it would rock back the way You have removed the starter so it is not that.
it did it the other day though and has been running since
If the engine won't turn at all it does sound like its siezed, does the crank move at all or a few degrees? When you rebuilt the engine did you check the size of the crank bearings both inside and outside diameter? Fords used oversize outside diameter main bearings which can catch people out . If the crank turns a few degrees it could be a siezed piston ?
quote:
Originally posted by rusty nuts
If the engine won't turn at all it does sound like its siezed, does the crank move at all or a few degrees? When you rebuilt the engine did you check the size of the crank bearings both inside and outside diameter? Fords used oversize outside diameter main bearings which can catch people out . If the crank turns a few degrees it could be a siezed piston ?
i just went back out and re fitted the starter motor and it turned about 6 or 7 times, slowly but it turned over, then stopped again.
I'd be checking the battery first.
new battery, i just went out again, turned the key and it turned slowly, so i kept the key turned and it got a bit faster then faster and faster until it was whizzing over at full speed, then it kept doing it then each time, it was gradually slowing down i think due to the battery draining, but if i waited a few seconds it would whizz round again. i know this is a daft question but the alternator belt couldnt be too tight could it???
Could be.
Are you using the old inertia starter motor? Is the ring gear meshing nicely?
Have you tried twisting the alternator a bit while cranking the engine over to see if it turns over a bit quicker?
Just going off memory of starting issues i had with my crossflow although that was a few years back!
Is there oil in the engine?
If yes, you should see it come out the rocker shaft if it is at correct level and oil pump working.
i have a new starter on the way, i dont think it's the starter though because we couldnt rock the engine over even with the starter removed earlier, just been back out to it and it is whizzing over again, so would you say i can rule out seizing? daft question i know, as it isn't seized at the moment, but thats what it feels like when it's jammed
quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
Is there oil in the engine?
If yes, you should see it come out the rocker shaft if it is at correct level and oil pump working.
Got a good earth on the engine/box?
yes mate but this oil thing has got me thinking now, no oil coming from rocker shaft, i bet thats what it is, oil pump!
Earth strap?
with plugs and starter out can you turn the engine freely with a ratchet on crank bolt,any easier with foot on the clutch ?
sounds like something has come adrift inside the engine,crank thrust washer maybe ?
Have you removed the fan belt. The alternator or water pump could be seizing. Long shot but easy to test
took the fan belt off and pump and alt are spinning free, now it's turning over again i can turn it with a spanner yes
Think i solved the problem, oil pump wasn't working, just fitted another one and i now have oil pumping out the rocker shaft, which i didn't
before, my engine is probably knackered now i wouldn't have even thought about it if 02gf74 on this thread hadn't mentioned it so thanks,
just crossing my fingers now that it isn't screwed.
[Edited on 4/8/16 by ande]
Oh dear!
Fingers crossed you may be lucky
ye hope so 
what's the worst that could happen if i carry on using it then?
Keep an eye on the oil pressure gauge and engine temps. If the oil pressure drops (or increases for that matter!) stop the engine asap. If the temps get too hot, stop the engine. Check the oil level in case water is getting in the sump. Keep your fingers crossed.
quote:
Originally posted by ande
what's the worst that could happen if i carry on using it then?
Just rebuilt a Pinto for a friend that had been started similar to yours, Its ended up with new mains and big end bearings and a cam due to scoring
Luckily the crank was salvageable
Hopefully you've had better luck
If it were me I'b be tempted to check a main bearing and a big end bearing as a rough guide to condition...
quote:
Originally posted by perksy
Just rebuilt a Pinto for a friend that had been started similar to yours, Its ended up with new mains and big end bearings and a cam due to scoring
Luckily the crank was salvageable
Hopefully you've had better luck
If it were me I'b be tempted to check a main bearing and a big end bearing as a rough guide to condition...
I have decided to use my other block to save time, i have noticed it has some pitting where the triangle sections of the gasket have sat, will it be
ok? i think those bits will be cut off by the new gasket anyway, you can see where i have drawn around the areas
Those areas wont matter. You need good surface around cylinder bores, water and oil ways.
Dont forget to prime oil pump by packing it with vaseline (will disolve in oil, other grease wont) and check oil appearing at top of engine. 
Re other engine, without taking head, crank and rods off, it is anyones guess what damage was done.
As others have suggested, drive it until it dies, keeping eye on oil pressure, oil consumption and knocking noises. A compression test would tell you
if bores are knackered.
phew, i am going to use this other block as it it was rebuilt and not used, only thing is, it has no cam, so i am hoping the cam in the blue engine is ok, i was worried about the pitting, thanks.