Thanks for the tips on testing the used engines. The ones I have found so far are sitting in an old tire strapped to a wood pallet. Found a lift and engine stand for around 150, but am still trying to think positive about mine before jumping off into another engine.
Well, I couldn't wait till the weekend, so I pulled the pan tonight, and I guess the good news is that there wasn't anything that my inexperienced and un-trained eye could see was wrong. Maybe someone with more experience would have noticed something, but it all just looked normal to me. Oil pan was basically clean with no shiny shards or chunks of anything in there at all. I did find some sharp black grit that would break up if you rubbed it between your fingers (guessing that is maybe varnish?). The grit was about the size of course sand and was just a thin layer in the bottom, so I wiped that all out. I didn't spend a lot of time looking under there, but I did NOT notice any bent connecting rods or missing bits. I could see the camshaft and it was just coated in oil. Took a few pictures and I'll see if I can figure out how to upload them.
It's still stuck solid and won't budge in either direction when I rock it in third gear. I didn't try too hard but could roll it back and fourth over maybe 4 or 5 inches (transmission slop?) but the fan would not budge. I have not checked the foot starter to see if it's just jammed in the flywheel, 'cuz I'm not real sure how to check that or if it is even a possibility. What else could have made that thump sound? It was just idling in my driveway, and honestly sounded like the fan belt broke and flew off the pulleys. After it made that sound, I imediately shut it off and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Noticed it puked a little puddle of oil out of the bottom of the fuel pump engine seal, but the dipstick still said it was full. I think the puke was because it was over full from me dumping a little oil on the rockers before it started (the dipstick was showing full). When I tried to start it again, it sounded like the battery was dead in that it barely turned and just went ruh-wrow-ruh. Not sure if that was the battery, or it was just really getting itself stuck real good. I can't find any evidence of something letting go in the top or bottom. There are 2 rockers that I can't jiggle by hand any more, but that may be just because of where the engine stopped mid-stroke. All other rockers have a little play and I can spin the rods with my fingers. None of the rods look like they are bent (again, untrained eye here...) and the ones I could spin did not feel like they were going off center.
One thing I can say is that I'm pretty sure the person who invented the hydraulic car lift did so because he had to take off/put on one to many oil pans.... What a pain in the arse. I'm sure it's going to start leaking now after never dropping one bit of oil in my garage ;-D
