Thread: L322 M62 Vogue: Engine stuck after timing chain and guides replacement.

I don't know much about the engines but to me it sounds like a valve timing is out and a valved is down when the piston hits it, locking it.

At the moment the front wheels are off the floor and the front of the vehicle is supported under the suspension so I'm able to get under the engine. I can do the same with the rear of the vehicle and get the rear wheels off the ground as well.
The battery is not connected at the moment, because if I make contact, the fuel pump will start ****ing petrol all over the shop. I'll have to disconnect the fuel pump first.

So the cams aren't currently locked and the chain is out but it still won't rotate fully ?

Yes, ... the camshafts are not locked at the moment. I can rotate the camshafts when I make sure that non of the pistons are in TDC. The long timing chain has been removed. I can only rotate the crankshaft by about 90 degrees back an forth. I made sure that I didn't touch any valves. The front cover plates of the engine, the rocker covers and the sump are all still off. The oil pump and its drive chain are not obstructed.

As soon as I can find the time I'll get all 4 wheels off the floor. I'll disconnect the fuel pump and connect the battery. I'll see what happens if I turn the ignition on. Hopefully I can pull the gear lever out of "P" and into "N" and back.
Perhaps this will free-up the system.

Just in case I'd be checking all the valve clearances to see if you've accidentally bent a valve stem or two during rotation. Next find a bore scope and look for anything sitting on a piston crown that could impede rotation. Some engines develop a thick carbon cake on the cylinder heads that can drop off if the engine is parked for a while. Last year I rescued an old VW Beetle engine that suffered that fate, a lot of penetrating oil, a flexible scraper and compressed air moved it out the plug hole and it ran very well after that.

Valves are probably an interference fit and some are open and hitting a piston crown.

I have 4 wheels off the ground now and the handbrake released. I still cannot pull the gearshift out of "P", neither can I turn the ignition key for more than a fraction. Do I need to connect the battery to be able to do this?

And to answer some of the above.... It is not the valves which are stopping the crankshaft to rotate....

Originally Posted by maxiscope

I have 4 wheels off the ground now and the handbrake released. I still cannot pull the gearshift out of "P", neither can I turn the ignition key for more than a fraction. Do I need to connect the battery to be able to do this?

And to answer some of the above.... It is not the valves which are stopping the crankshaft to rotate....

you need to connect the battery as it releases the interlocks .