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I have had problems getting the engine to turn over. Last fall it got water into #7,8 cylinder exactly how not sure. The engine was turning over with starter motor but eventually stopped completely, I removed head and had water in the cylinder. Since then i cleaned out cylinder 7, 8
Polished up , honed and cleaned as best I couldI could turn engine with prying the ring gear I checked all cylinders , polished and honed. It would turn the engine quite easily with the pry. I re assembled with new head gasket. Using remote starter and 6 volt battery in only turned over 4-5 rotations. I used 12 volt battery it spun engine maybe 10 seconds and seized up and the starter only clicked. Now nothing moves. I am lost as to why the 12v would not crank it

12v will usually not fry a 6v starter. Check if the starter gear isn't jammed up on the flywheel. Give it a few hard raps to turn the starter and try again. Most likely the starter motor has just quit from old age.

I'd replace that starter.

I've been running a 6v Delco starter on 12v for years without issue. But I did replace the starter solenoid with a 12v equivalent as those are what can get toasted on 12v. Sometimes they get fried open and sometimes fried closed.

Sorry for your issue. Will it turn with the plugs out. Could be hydraulic lock if you missed something with the water in the cylinders.

Alternately, will the starter turn if removed and powdered on the bench?

The starter was rebuilt by a reliable company here is Seattle. They did a complete check out again and a bench test with a load. It was found to be working fine.
I out it back in and tried again. Bothe new 6 volt battery and then 12 v. Plugs out. Both times only only clicks.
I can turn the flywheel ring gear with a pry bar.
When I turn with pry I can move about 2-3 teeth at a time. . However turn to the right ( IEE from back) no noise, turn to the left a definite click,click,click sound.but not from the starter, but more from the main bearing area.

Spun main bearing?

Can you turn using the big nut in front, the vibration dampener?

If starter's "good", wired right, has a good ground, and it's not turning with 6V, as designed, then there's something else wrong or the starter is not putting out.
In troubleshooting, exchanging parts is one way to diagnose faults. If no change, rules out as cause of the problem.

6V wiring has to carry more current to output the same wattage P=VA, so is larger. No power factor in DC. Doubling voltage produces/converts to more heat. V=IR Heat is not good for electricals. R is a function of temperature. higher temp = higher resistance.

Since it turns with pry bar, then it's not "stuck" per se, just difficult to turn. It should turn by hand, if normal.
There's a tool to turn the flywheel but can't always get it in there on the car. They only turn one way, opposite won't help, but technically the motor doesn't know the difference. They wear in the direction of rotation.
Could be many things, from simply gummed up to major malfunction. Guessing what it is on the internet won't solve nor diagnose your problem.
crystal ball; part or all tear down is in the near future.
If it's the L8, there's side cover to access the valve train.

Thanks for the good information. It seems odd I can turn it over but the starter cannot
The battery 6 volt is being checked now. It is only showing about 250 CCA fully charged should be close to 900. Maybe a dead cell, although it was new 2 years ago. What battery is common to use for my engine ? 288 cu in. My cables are 1/0 .
If the battery is fully charged and the starter is good and the engine can be turned by hand it has got to be an internal problem??
What can I see from removing the pan
I just keep hoping not to pull the engine, i guess,
Thanks all,
Mike