Rubbing/Thumping/Dragging From Engine When Cranking?

Pull the water pump and remove the timing chain cover. I'm betting you bumped the cover into the timing chain and (or) gears, hence your 1/2 speed sound vs. revolution cranking speed.
Try cranking it over by hand then with the plugs out and the timing cover off. Noise gone?

 

Well?

 

Sorry everyone. I've been sidelined due to an injury (sliced my hand open and have s***ches all across my palm) so it's been tough to get anything done. When I'm 100% I'll have an update.


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QUICK UPDATE: all healed up and back working on the car. Tried starting the car this past weekend and failed. It would sputter but wouldn't catch. Had spark and fuel. I was standing there just staring at the engine and was looking at the harmonic balancer, and noticed there is a line that says "VERTICALTDC", a "0" line, and other blank marks around the balancer. After some research, I found out there are several TDC marks on this balancer to accommodate the different SBC years...and I was using the wrong mark to set TDC. I was about 40 degrees advanced. I reinstalled the distributer using the right mark, just have to put the plugs back in and re-install the plug wires and I'll try again. Would being 40 degrees advanced and cranking the motor produce that noise?

 

Probably, yeah. At that point your starter is fighting against pressure.

Pull plug #1 (for the finger trick), pull the dist out and dead-time it. Find your proper TDC mark. Good luck!

 

^^^^ x2

 

yes it would be hard to start , and could make the noises , also make sure you do not commit the biggest mistake on SBC's ( even I have done it ) and reverse the 5 and 7 wires , as it will try to fire and might start but when it cranks it will fire #5 on exhaust and make a thump sound ( like hitting the bottom of a plastic bucket ) in the header