While we are on the subject of AMC heads...did you or anyone do anything to the valves or valve keepers to prevent the Valve stems from being torn off?  The original valve keepers are larger on the AMC heads.  The result is that the valves move up and down within the valve keepers...resulting in the stems being torn off around 40k miles.

If you or your supplier have not swapped these out or ground down the keepers...now is the time to it.

Z

Sent from my iPad

> On Dec 31, 2015, at 06:31, kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
> 
> I think Darrell is pointing you in the right direction.  There is the
> thrust washer that can easily drop out of place when you install the
> flywheel.  Or you miscalculated the thickness of the endplay shims as
> Darrell suggested.  Either of those happen way more often than a messed up
> valve in a brand new AMC head (never).
> 
> Ken
> 
>> On Thu, Dec 31, 2015 at 7:35 AM, Darrell Boehler <midwesty@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> It is easy to add not enough  shim thickness on the crankshaft.
>> Check the  crankshaft for end play. Loosen the Flywheel /torque
>> converter plate
>> then see if it turns then.  Been there done that.  When testing for
>> crankshaft
>> shim thickness it is easy to add not enough shims  because we don't
>> tighten the
>> the flywheel fully during testing / adjusting.
>>     Best of luck with your projekt
>> Midwesty
>> 
>> 
>>> On 12/31/2015 4:30 AM, John Rodgers wrote:
>>> 
>>> Engine turns beautifully by hand on the bench. Put the new AMC hesds on
>>> with all parts assembled, torque them down,  and the beenengine won't
>>> turn.
>>> 
>>> Removed the heads twice, still no joy. Sounds like a valve stuck in a
>>> guide
>>> to me.
>>> 
>>> Any body else ever had this problem or got an educated opinion?
>>> 
>>> Thanks.
>>> 
>>> John
> 
> 
> --
> Thanks,
> Ken Wilford
> John 3:16
> www.vanagain.com