CAM Won't turn.

So I have the top end mostly off. Exhaust mani off and most of fuel assembly. All that's left is intake mani and taking off the head so I can get at the cylinders. Cam won't turn, even manually. Going to throw a breaker on the crank and see if it will turn. Hopefully it will so I don't have to take out the engine.

Any guess which part of the engine is blown? Everything sounds great outside of the engine when it tries to turn over the cam moves about a quarter inch clockwise and holds until you let up on the ignition then it rolls back to where it was.

Thinking maybe a ring is stuck or possibly broken main bearing or piston rod.

Did you look at your timing belt? What year is it, and what motor are we talking about.

Yes. The top end and front (Fan Clutch, alternator, P/S Pump) are also removed.

The timing belt is in pristine condition. It looks like it was replaced and then never used because they realized the timing belt was not the problem. (I bought this truck off craigs list)

It is a 1994 2WD Manual Transmission Inline 4 2.4L Fuel Injected.

maybe its not on there right?

That's a possibility but if it was the timing belt it should still turn freely when trying to turn manually, right?

True. Assuming that nothing is broke and inbetween the belt and any gears. Did you know any other history prior to buying it. Like why did they think the timing belt was broke. How long ago did this happen... Motor could be seized up from over heating or loss of oil.

To be honest I doubt the guy I bought it from replaced the timing belt. He looked lazy and it is a pain to get off on this engine.

He said he assumed the timing belt was the issue because "it sounds like the top end is not turning".

The oil did not look very good coming out but he said it'd been sitting for 3 or 4 months and this was 3 months ago. I've since drained the oil, put in new oil (to try and start it), then drained it again to work on the engine.

If it was overheated would there be signs of ware in other portions of the compartment from the excess heat?

I cant say if an overheating issue would cause a no start and top end not turning issue. Did you turn the crank and see if the cam turned or not? Take that top timing cover off and turn the crank to see if everything is at the least turning.

Where are you located at anyway?

It's not in gear, is it?

Been in neutral for about 3 months now.

Timing cover is off. Took a 19mm to the crank this weekend, turns about an inch clockwise then stops. Seems to kind of bounce away from its stopping point.

I'm in Las Vegas, by the way.