Spare Engine Turns Freely

Last night I was in the garage working on the Suburban and when I was finished I decided to fiddle with the spare engine that’s just been sitting. I put the bar across the bolts that I’d put in the harmonic balancer and cranked away. It turned all the way around! I then put the engine on end resting on the face of the bellhousing and cranked away for a few more minutes. After each revolution it got easier to turn. Looks like next I’ll have to bolt a torque converter, differential, and starter on, put some more oil in the crankcase, and see what kind of compression each cylinder has.