200TDI rebuild problems

Rebuilding my 200tdi and i have run into problems, i was very careful to put all the same nuts and bolts back in the right places but when i tighten my con rod caps to 56nm i am unable to turn the crank?

I have replaced the old worn out bearings with new std size and the crank journals all look to be in good condition, any ideas?

The mains are fine, just when i torque up the big ends

Same big end caps with the same original rods? same big end caps the same way around as removed?
Did you check the old shells to see what size they were?

Fit and tighten one at a time so you know which go tight, and plenty of clean oil on journal and shells

Just undone them all and tightened them one at a time with lots of assembly grease and the engine now seems to turn over ok.... how strange

perhaps i didnt give the bearings enough assembly grease the first time around

If you are happy all the bits are in the right place you need to Plastigauge them to see what the clearances are, too tight can be worse than too loose.

I would check and check again many parts of an engine can run when set wrong, but the big ends arent one of them.

went out to the block this evening and its seized solid again.... undone the rod bolts and it now turns nice and freely.
I'm starting to question the bearings i bought, cant remember where i got them from but they were cheap new old stock (maybe ebay)
the part numbers on the shells are LS2 STD R12
Can anybody confirm if these are correct?
im now off to try and source some plastigauge, do you reckon halfords would sell it?

OK i have found the problem but just cant believe how stupid i have been, i had the caps on rods 2 and 3 mixed up.
Now turns over lovely, will check the clearances with plastiguage tomorrow

Thanks for your responses, i always find this site a massive help when i'm in trouble with the landy

Just as well you persevered and had a second look, it you had continued rebuilding and left the caps swapped you would have probably been stripping it apart again after a short while

5tox said:

OK i have found the problem but just cant believe how stupid i have been, i had the caps on rods 2 and 3 mixed up.
Now turns over lovely, will check the clearances with plastiguage tomorrow

Thanks for your responses, i always find this site a massive help when i'm in trouble with the landy

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Good find