Jammed Flexplate 1987 F150 XLT, 351W
 

Folks, I have a 351W crate engine I put into an 87 F150 XLT, 1FTEF14H8HNA23020, with C6 Transmission. After a long search for an engine wiring harness I finally found someone to repair what I had and was able to hear the engine fire up. I didn't run the engine because I needed to replace a bad fuel line and make a few other adjustments. But, with starting fluid, with starting fluid it fired and would have cranked had it had fuel. No problem to this point.

After replacing the fuel line and making some other adjustments, I tried to crank the engine and heard a loud clanging noise then it just stopped turning over. The starter was engaging but the crank was not turning. When I looked underneath the truck I saw the starter hanging by one bolt. The other ear of the starter housing was broken off. I had another starter and replaced it but have found the flexplate apparently jammed very tight. I am unable to move it by turning the crank or by hand at the dust cover. The only thing I can think of is something must have fallen into the torque converter / bell housing and jammed between the flexplate. I am hoping someone will have a better sense of what may have happened.

I feel confident it is not an engine problem because it never ran, only just fired on the cylinders. But, I have exceeded my knowledge level and would appreciate any help or advice you might offer.

Peek in the bell housing trap door?
 

Have you tried taking off the access door on the bottom of the bell housing to see if you can spot a busted piece of your starter jammed in there? You might be able to use a pry bar in the flex plate teeth to back up the motor enough to free the offending part.

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