alright, I have my new engine on the stand, and am almost done adjusting the rockers.

Here's the problem:

as I crank over the engine, it got alot harder now that the valvesa are moving correctly. I figured it was just compressing, but now it almost acts as if something is touching. It gets real hard to crank over, then the force I am pressing against disappears. Is that normal?

383 5.7 rods -5cc dish
le3 head/cam/intake cam installed staight up
CC ProMag 1.6, TF guidplates, ls7 lifter, cc chromoly pushrods 7.15

 

not for sure!
rods could be hitting the cam,this has happened to others before and the cure was to get another cam that is on a reduced base circle.is your pan off so you can watch the rotation?

 

without the rockers installed it rotates fine without the rods tapping the cam.

I already had to clearance them.

 

Did you check PTV?
if not check it....

Other than that could just be the valve springs......I have kind of a heavy spring and you can't hardly turn the engine over at all. With the plugs in it you need a breaker bar