389 Pontiac engine rebuilding problems

[Nick]

I am rebuilding the engine in my 66 Pontiac its a 389 with bored over and notihing done to the crank. I got all of the pistons in and started to torque down the rod bearings. After torquing down 2 of them I couldnt turn the engine over any more. I know that its going to be tight because its all new but if anything with stock bearings I would think they would be a littler lose not to tight. I double checked on the back of the bearings and they were not oversize.

[Morrisman]

Plastigage measure your bearing clearances. Everytime. Every bearing.

[safariknut]

Sounds like it could possibly be a bearing cap either reversed or mismatched to the rod.How did the crank spin before the pistons were installed.Did you measure the end gap of the rings in each cylinder?M/T used to recommend .004" for every inch of bore diameter.Were the rod caps marked before disassembly?

[Rocky]

Lest you think the furthest piston forward is #1, it ain't. Not on a poncho. If I'm remembering correctly [my engine is at another location....can't see it] #1 piston is the second one back on the crankshaft. It's the frontmost one on the driver's side [left] bank but #2 piston is further forward on the right bank. I have no idea.....anyway, keep the numbering straight.
You ARE aware that each rod has a number stamped on it, right? And each rod cap also has a number stamped on it that goes with it's corresponding rod number. Also each rod bearing has a locator tang made into it. It fits into a relief machined into the rods and the rod caps. The tang in the rod cap bearing should be facing the tang on the other half of the bearing...tang to tang...
The little machined notch on the piston tops should be facing to the front of the block too.
If some of these comments and questions seem simplistic, remember this. I don't know you or your engine assembly experience.. hope some of this helps.