I turned the engine by hand (wrench). It made almost a complete revolution then stopped. I can't get it to turn anymore, I can turn it backward a little. Something must have gotten into the cylinder. I am going to try and use a vacuum or magnet to get watever it is out. I would really hate to pull the head off.

 

Did you ever check the oil?
Do I understand correctly: You have all the plugs out but you can't turn the crank by hand with a wrench or socket?
If you've got the intake off, pulling the heads isn't that big a deal. You'll just need new head gaskets and new head bolts when you put them back on.

 

I pulled the plugs and I was able to turn the crank by hand almost a full turn but then it feels like something is stopping the crank from turning any more. The engine is not seized, it will turn in the opposite direction.

I don't want to pull the heds because I dont want to mess with the exhaust manifold bolts if I can help it.

 

If something did fall down into the cylinder, it may have damaged the piston head and/or scarred the cylinder walls. If it were me, I would go ahead and pull the head and check for damage to the cylinder.

This is one of those times where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

It sounds like something fell into the intake and got sucked into the cylinder. I don't think you are going to have much luck with a magnet. There is some telescopic tool you can use to look down into the cylinder but I can't imagine it's cheap.
I think you are going to have to pull the head. Soak the exhaust bolts with penetrating lubricant, wait and hour or so and heat it up with a torch (you don't have to get it red), let it cool down and hit it with the lube again. If you don't have a torch, just let it soak 24 hours.
I use PB Blaster but some people poo-poo it and claim Kroil and a couple others are the way to go. Someone posted 50/50 acetone/ATF is the best. What every you use, give it time to work and you shouldn't have much trouble.
Given what you are describing, I'd pull the head. Make sure to follow the torque patern when you put the head back on. Best of luck.

 

if you're worried about snapping off the manifold bolts at the block then take a grinder and cut the heads off the bolts, slide the manifold off then take a pair of vice grips and a heat gun and heat it up right where it meets the block then back them out with the vice grips.

Thats what im going to have to do with mine because the heads of my bolts are rusted almost completely off and replacement bolts are cheap.

 

I had to work all weekend but I was finally able to put a little time in. I lucked out, the exhaust manifold bolts came right out after a little squirt of pb blaster. Rockers and pushrods are out, just have to remove the bolts holing the head on. Hopefully tomorrow I will know what is going on.

 

Sweet man, fill out your profile information with your location and stats about your truck if you're up to it.

TAKE PICS OF THE JOB!! we love pic's and it always helps others to see where you succeed and where you're having problems.

 

Did you ever get the head off?

 

I finally pulled the head (the two exhaust bolts holding the manifold to the mid-pipe were really hard to get to). In cylinder 8 sitting on the piston I saw what I thought was a blob of metal, when I pulled it out it was the smashed wingnut for my open element air cleaner! The cylinder walls, piston and head look okay. Now I have to put everything back together. I just wonder if I need to pull the other head, or is it okay to replace only one head gasket?