After looking everything over that I could think of as suggested, everything looks fine. The flexplate bolts are good, etc. The engine sat on it's crate for 5 years in a garage and spun freely. No issues at all. Put it in the car and now it's stuck in just a few months?...Which leads me to this comment-
Quote Originally Posted by 35WINDOW
I noticed that you did not say that the engine turned freely AFTER you installed it-could there be a possibility that you didn't engage the Trans Pump properly when you put it together (bound up)?
You know what, I wasn't sure exactly how the trans/engine should be put together. I ended up using the bolts to pull them togther about the last 1" or so.
So the converter may not be seated right on the trans shaft and that could be binding it??