Well, since this a totally unrelated issue from what I was doing earlier today, here'* a new post. When I was doing those coil tests, the idle smoothed out for about 5 seconds or so. Then all of the sudden, engine just dead stops! No spinning down, just one moment the engine is running, then not even a millisecond later, not running. Here is what I checked so far:

1) Battery....since the starter was making a clicking noise, I thought the battery may have been the culprit. Took it in, tests fine but low, charged up, tests good. Put it back on the car, and still nothing.

2) Starter. I yanked this off of the flywheel but left it touching the block. Turn the key, and it spins up.

Now then, on these motors, can I turn the crank by hand, with all accessories still connected, and all the plugs out of the cylinders? I've tried, but it no budgie...

Me thinks this proj is gonna get way more involved than originally thought......

Can you rotate the crank? Best way to do this is with a big screwdriver against the flat of a tooth on the flywheel. Basically, pry against the transmission housing. Do this slowly and carefully so you don't hurt yourself. You can do it with all the connectors in place.

You should be able to crank it over by hand. It should be hard, but possible. Next time it fails to crank over, smack the starter with a hammer while someone cranks it. I'm not kidding about that. Try it.

Beating it with a hammer didn't do the job....in fact, it'* locked up good. I tried rotating with the socket and ratchet and nothing...except some major deflection. One of my friends said it may be the harmonic balancer being so far out of whack that it'* jammed up on something on the block...which I highly doubt. The rod bearings, I think, shouldn't cause a lock-up like this...the only thing I can think of is the oil pump just seizing, I had 40 psi of pressure prior to this episode, and no other noises except for the balancer dancing around

sounds like somthing seized if you cant turn the flywheel...

I get nothing...the only movement happenin was the flexing with the ratchet. Plugs are all out, starter is out of the housing, so there is absolutley no reason why that crankshaft shouldn't give.

I absolutley hate my luck! I'll make a decision soon on whether or not I am going to offer it up for parts.

I've never heard of a 3800 doing this. That'* just nuts. :?

I'd be dropping the oil pan at this point to check for any weird damage

Well, here is a video clip to show that the "never heard of that one before" is indeed real:

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...Picture132.flv

What'* the kicker is that it just all the sudden stopped...no spinning down, no sort of warning, just STOPPED! And there was no crunching or breakage sounds either.