440 Manual Turn Crank Direction

Pops68NYR

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When facing the front of the engine (440 - in the car) to turn the crank manually - is the rotation clockwise or counter clockwise?

I believe it is clockwise, just wanted to double check prior.
 
Just imagine you always want to be tightening the harmonic balancer bolt. Clockwise is the way the motor runs.
 
When facing the front of the engine (440 - in the car) to turn the crank manually - is the rotation clockwise or counter clockwise?

I believe it is clockwise, just wanted to double check prior.

Why are you doing this? Has the engine been sitting for a long time, and you just want to see if it's locked up, or are you just trying to find TDC, so you can install the distributor correctly? If the engine has been sitting for a long time, you don't want to do this. You should remove the plugs, fill the cylinders with ATF or some other super penetrating lubricant, and let it sit for a few days or a week. Then you can try to turn the engine over manually. Even then, if a valve is stuck open, you run the risk of bending the valve or damaging a piston. If the engine has been sitting for a really long time, in addition to the foregoing, I would also remove the valve covers and the rocker arm assemblies, so as to be sure the valves are all closed and not stuck open. If any are stuck, you can lubricate the stem and lightly tap them with a wood mallet to free them up.
 
Every 6 months since I had the car I remove all the plugs squirt some ATF in the cyl and bar the engine over a few times. Reinstall plugs. Will finally be starting the engine rebuild soon. Engine turns fine, no binds or sticking. I lost my notes in my phone so was double checking on the clockwise rot.
 
Every 6 months since I had the car I remove all the plugs squirt some ATF in the cyl and bar the engine over a few times. Reinstall plugs. Will finally be starting the engine rebuild soon. Engine turns fine, no binds or sticking. I lost my notes in my phone so was double checking on the clockwise rot.

Mighty fine. You were wise to do that engine rotation every six months. You should have no worries.
 
This has always puzzled me. Why worry about having lube in the combustion chamber and no talk of priming the oil pump and get out on the bearings & journals, cam & lifters, etc where it normally goes when the engine runs? “Fill the cylinders with ATF or some other super penetrating lubricant”. This is good on a stuck engine but I don’t see it on one that turns over fine.

Nobody ever talks of all the smoke on startup from soaking the chambers.

A friend had bought a car and the 273 was stuck so he soaked it and primed it and got it rotating normally and wanted help starting it. We cranked it over with the plugs out until no ATF was coming out the plug holes. New plugs installed and it was hard to start, it was getting the plugs wet so we had to remove the plugs and clean the a few times.

When it did start it smoked for 20 minuted to burn out all that ATF. Then it ran clean and clear with no smoke. He drove it for many years. So the sumoke was from the ATF soak and not engine troubles.
 
This has always puzzled me. Why worry about having lube in the combustion chamber and no talk of priming the oil pump and get out on the bearings & journals, cam & lifters, etc where it normally goes when the engine runs? “Fill the cylinders with ATF or some other super penetrating lubricant”. This is good on a stuck engine but I don’t see it on one that turns over fine. . .

Uh. . . The OP wasn't talking about starting the engine. He just wanted to turn it over manually. Of course, I agree that if yer gonna move on to start the engine, its very good practice to prime the oiling system first. And I like smoke. It is certain to piss off my jackass DOJ lawyer neighbor. . .
 
I’ve had the car for about 5 years now, wasn’t trying to start. Just keep the cylinders lubed and the parts turning.

I’ve finally finished rebuilding our entire house so now I hope to have time to start on the car. It was in barn storage for approx 30 years when I got her. Been in my workshop since I brought her home.

Been tinkering with Mustangs and Harleys most of my life, looking forward to working on this beauty. I think I have passed the fast car stage, now I want to ride in style.

Full disclosure, I am completely Mopar ignorant, so I appreciate any help I can get from the vets on here.

Thanks again.
 
I’ve had the car for about 5 years now, wasn’t trying to start. Just keep the cylinders lubed and the parts turning.

I’ve finally finished rebuilding our entire house so now I hope to have time to start on the car. It was in barn storage for approx 30 years when I got her. Been in my workshop since I brought her home.

Been tinkering with Mustangs and Harleys most of my life, looking forward to working on this beauty. I think I have passed the fast car stage, now I want to ride in style.

Full disclosure, I am completely Mopar ignorant, so I appreciate any help I can get from the vets on here.

Thanks again.

Welcome aboard. You are in good company. Of course, you must know by now - We are photo whores. You need to post some pictures of your car. One more thing: Your First step should be to get get an FSM. Get one free here: www.mymopar.com
 
I have an acquaintance who rebuilt a 383 in their B-body maybe 10 or 15 years ago, and it's been sitting outside since, in the car, but the car is dismantled and sitting in a field. I wonder if it'll still turn over? Hmmm.....
 
Uh. . . The OP wasn't talking about starting the engine. He just wanted to turn it over manually. Of course, I agree that if yer gonna move on to start the engine, its very good practice to prime the oiling system first. And I like smoke. It is certain to piss off my jackass DOJ lawyer neighbor. . .
the smoke is also great for mosquito control.
 
I got a FSM already, it was the second purchase. Put some pics in the garage.
 
I injected Marvels Mystery Oil into the cylinders of my convertible a couple of weeks ago, the following day I loaded them up with Penngrade 10w30, a day or 2 later I primed it and a day or 2 after that I fired it up inside my shop and there was no more smoke from the tailpipes than what comes out of my drivers. Now the smoke coming off the exhaust manifolds was plentiful for a while...:rolleyes:
 
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