2 things cross my mind, if sitting for so long untouched? and top end removed, and rod caps loosened and still tight, how about loosening main caps incase gunk has settled through crank oil holes into bearing groove or cam followers are tight. Obviously soaking pistons has been done? All just a guess relating to rotating parts and we all love a stab in the dark with these problems.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

"Take the engine apart again"? Have you already had it apart? Now you need to checked for mixed up bearing caps and caps on backwards. Those would make it hard to turn if it didn't lock it up entirely.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Another thought comes to mind, Pull the belts off the motor and make sure it's not the water pump or generator. Starter too.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

When I removed the bearing caps to move the pistons there was some slight scuffing on the bearings but nothing seemed like it was so stuck as to make the engine drag the way it is . Today I am going to see if I can take the tranny out of the equation . I think something in the tranny is the problem . When I find out the problem I plan to take the engine apart again just to make sure no damge was done .

You might want to look at the crank and make sure the bearings are ok. Sounds like somrthing's siezed or trying to/ Probably why it was parked. Check the rear seal and the mains also.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Almost can't turn by hand, i need to use a long handle ratchet and socket . I need to use 12 volts to spin the motor .

Are you turning the engine my hand or with the starter?

Hello I have a 1955 Ford 272 takes a lot of effort to turn the engine , I have soaked the pistons with oil with no change . The car has been sitting for almost 30 yrs I have pulled the heads today and the cylinder bore is clean yet the engine is still tight . The car has an automatic transmission I was wondering if the torque converter or some internal transmission part could be so rusty that its making the crankshaft hard to turn. I plan to disconnect the converter from the engine to see if it makes a diffrence. I would like some Ideas Byy the was today when in removed the heads I did drop the pan and removed the bearing cap from each piston the pistons all moved freely yet the engine is still hard to turn thanks again