2001 Vauxhall Frontera crank moves from back to front

Hi all I bought this car last year and it had a sqeal so I thought it was thrust bearing as it turned out it wasn't cause I had a word with my mechanic friend and he said it was thrust washers on the cramk as the crank moves a substantial amount and that was causing the sqealing so Ithought Iid buy another engine for it found out I could buy a x20xev and swap bits over so I did I put engine in yesterday and the car wont turn over then I dicovered water in the bores so now im totally baffled so im now looking at the original engine think I could repair that one but as I look onto the crank I cannot see any thrust washers can someone please advise as to fix this crank from moving back and forward .thanks natt