It gets hard because it is hitting the compression stroke, that is normal.
But the screeching is not.
Sounds like you ran it out of oil.
Dont try to blame that on me, haha.
I didnt touch the block.
If you had it running with it screeching, and the screeching was caused by a lack of oil, you might have a spun bearing or scored cylinder walls.
If you used the copper sealer in between the head and block, we need to have a talk...