Something doesn't feel right.
My LS Lq4 is using the stock crank and rods. .030 over coated Mahley pistons. EPS cam, 243 heads with compression right at 11 to 1. All new coated durabond bearings. Just about ready to install motor in my truck but primed it first on the stand. Flushed it first with cheap 30w oil and dumped it. Primed again with Joe Gibbs Break in oil. Using Goodson EPL-120 priming tank and connecting to oil galley on driver side under #1 piston (discharge side of oil pump) pressure up to 40 psi on tank to motor. Installed pressure gauge where oil pressure sensor goes and watched it climb to 25-32 psi and took about 15-20 min to complete prime. While the Joe Gibbs oil was going in after a few min I turned the crank over a few times and noticed how tight the motor was. Broke out my digital torque wrench tester and found I was pulling 40 - 50 ft lbs with the spark plugs out... My son and I have been on this motor and trans over 24 hrs straight with the last two hrs on computer trying to figure this out. Thought I had it licked and now this. Does this sound right? This is my first LS motor. All my experience is with the old school 383, 400, 454 and Pontiac 455. Not a one of them was this tight... Does 50 ft lbs pull to turn motor over sound excessive? Did I just screw something up? Help?

 

What are your bearing clearances?

 

Don't know right off. Feeling a bit nervous with my first LS I farmed out the machine work and short block...

 

All I did was install SLP Balancer, ARP center bolt torqued to 230 ft lbs. TCI flexplate, final pass to 74 ft lbs, intake, and all the other crap that goes with it... Damn I sure hope I don't have to pull it all apart but better now before its in the truck I guess... I'm just trying to get a feel for what everybody else gets when they build their motors... Is it normal?. Is it not? Could the balancer or flexplate affect rotation that much? **** I don't know. Trying really hard to not get frustrated.

 

Is the engine in and the converter bolted up? Call the machine shop and ask for bearing clearances, although, I would recommend checking them yourself before building...

 

No. Converter and trans are still sitting on floor waiting. I picked the motor up all buttoned up and ready to go so I didn't feel the need to tear it all apart. Just trying to get a good feel as to what everybody else experience has been. Was planning to already have this motor in last night and starting sometime later today. Shop is closed till tomorrow or else he would have been the first to hear from me.

 

Well in my opinion, Wait until you get to talk with the builder. I never took any torque readings from any of the LS engines I build, but I did a rotation check after each rod got bolted up and I also measured all the clearances so I'm unsure if 50lbs is too high....

Is it a constant 50lbs needed to rotate?

 

Umm, yeah. 45-50 lbs. It is smooth. Nothing binding or snagging just tight as hell. Def not what I'm used to that for sure. I maybe worried for nothing. Thats why I'm on here asking questions before I stop what I'm doing and haul this motor back across town and most likely not see it for several more weeks.... Damn. I was this close!

 

It should be turnable by hand with two hands grabbing the flexplate. Use some gloves.

 

What he said^^^