As the title says I did something really stupid. The result is a locked up motor on my 87 4.0. It's a rebuilt motor with only around 20k miles. I've removed sparked plugs and tried putting a socket on the crank bolt but it just seems to tighten it. Any suggestions on what I should do next?

 

What did you do,,,what happen? Did it overheat and lock it up?

 

The engine should turn over easily by hand with the plugs out. If you cant, you need to open it up and find out what. Bent rod, broken crank, etc. Who knows.

What exactly did you do?

 

Make sure that the starter not stuck to the flywheel . then remove the belt to make sure its not there .

 

Changed the oil and didn't have my filter tight enough. Pumped enough oil out that it locked up.

 

Where exactly should I be trying to turn it over by hand at? I usually do all my own work on it but have never messed with anything serious with the motor

 

Wow,,bummer.. Like fb97 said its time to start taking it apart.

 

If that's what happened , you need to take apart the engine and see what bearing went bad .

 

Sure this is a dumb question, but what's the best way to do this? Can I go from the bottom, drain the oil and remove the pan and do an inspection from their? Or do I need to go from the top, starting with the valve cover?

 

In reference to your "where can you turn it by hand" the crank pully should turn fairly easily

 

Most likely you spun a bearing. If you did, motor is coming all the way out. No way around it. Since you cant turn the engine over, I imagine that the bearing froze to the crank. That meaning, you at least would need a new crank and a rod or two.

Step one - Pull the oil filter off and cut it open. See if there are metal chunks in there. Also drain the oil in to a clean bucket. If it is nice and sparkly, dont even waste your time pulling the pan. Just know its done...

 

As far as draining the oil, I think I lost it all while going down the road...

 

Ok drained what oil I could and did look to have some shavings in there. I've got your basic tools (wrenches and sockets and what not) but no engine hoist. I guess best case scenario I just need a new crank and rods as 5-speed said. I've never removed or torn an engine apart. I'm assuming it would be cheapest to remove it and do it all myself correct? Going to call around tomorrow but any ideas what itll run me to have a shop remove it and fix it? I don't have another vehicle so I really need to get it up and running. I thought about the possibility of selling it, but with only 19k on the motor it makes it hard too.

 

Right off I'd say look for another motor. Your talking a lot of money if you can't do it yourself.

 

That's what I was afraid of. I'm confident I can remove the motor if I get a hoist. It's the rebuilding I'm unsure of.