i install and remove transmissions almost everyday.
1. When you are rotating the crank, it does not matter what gear you are in. THe Torque converter spins freely on the pumpshaft of the transmission.
2. The reason why its stuck is maybe because the torque converter maybe jammed in the transmission pump. To see if it is, try and rotate the torque converter to see if it spins.
If all else fails.. IDK what to tell you.
u mean try a when it mounted on the motor or off the motor, i've done it off the motor and it spins like stated previously.
And if on the motor that mean i'd have to use a pry bar thru the inspection hole???