Yup. Big time.
When I torn down my donor motor, I marked the timing chains, crank, and cam gears with corresponding marks with my paint pen. I did this when I put the new motor in my Town Car and it came out flawless.
Well, apparently this wasn't timed correctly. By me.
It's an interference engine, and I must have been off by more than a tooth, because:
Yeah, it was turning over fine by hand. I but battery power on to prime oil pump and it made a metallic noise and then stopped.
I found that three of the eight valve springs were raised, and that I could push them back down with my hand. I shouldn't be able to do that.
So I F'd three valves. Fortunately, I still had an entire set of valves hanging around that had been ultrasound cleaned and were ready for installation.
So I put everything back together AND turned it over by hand and by battery and it all went swimmingly.
I'm stoked that I figured out that issue and with minimal damage to the heads and pistons. It might be running my Monday evening!!!
To efficiency, and beyond!
-ryan s.