i have a 82 z28 with a new crate 383 with a nice problem i went through a few starters on this one. the engine is extremely hard to crank. when i turn the engine by hand it makes a rubbing sound buts it not a metal on metal sound it sounds like the forward main seal. the engine is a 10.5:1 compression. the question i guess is would the forward main bind the engine enough to make it hard to crank?

 

main bearing yes, main seal no.

 

thats mostly what i was fearing.

 

Any chance that the back of your dampener might be bottoming out on the timing chain cover/seal?