New engine rebuild, what is wrong ? Need help please
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Canboro Ontario
New engine rebuild, what is wrong ? Need help please
I am just finishing up on my 73, 454 auto. The engine is a fresh rebuild, I have been running the engine for only a few hours so far. After it has been running for a while, which by the way is running fine. I seem to have a problem restarting right after I shut it down. It is not overheating or anything like that. But when I go to start the engine right away, it won't start. It sounds like the battery is very low when trying to turn over. If you wait a while and then try to start the engine, it fires up as if nothing is wrong. This only happens when I try to start the engines after only a few minutes. Could someone please let me know what is happening, please.
Last edited by oldsarge; Aug 2, 2015 at 10:39 AM. Reason: It is a 454 not 545, my bad, sorry
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: charlotte north carolina
Could be a few pieces that are a little tight, and with heat expansion there's too much friction. My 427 rebuild was a bit snug on two mains and showed 70 PSI oil pressure for about 5 hours, and it fought the starter. But has settled to 40 now, and the starter doesn't struggle anymore.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,632
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From: Great Plains Iowa
I am just finishing up on my 73, 545 auto. The engine is a fresh rebuild, I have been running the engine for only a few hours so far. After it has been running for a while, which by the way is running fine. I seem to have a problem restarting right after I shut it down. It is not overheating or anything like that. But when I go to start the engine right away, it won't start. It sounds like the battery is very low when trying to turn over. If you wait a while and then try to start the engine, it fires up as if nothing is wrong. This only happens when I try to start the engines after only a few minutes. Could someone please let me know what is happening, please.
When it fails to crank over very fast (or not at all) put your fingers onto the battery terminals. If you feel any warmth at all you have a bad connection.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Canboro Ontario
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Orange County Ca
Sounds like you need a stronger starter or battery. Later GM gear reduction starters have higher torque ratings. Or, after market starter.
Also, check your timing and all battery connections.
Also, check your timing and all battery connections.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Yelm Wa
You seem to big fixated on the starter becoming too hot (it very well maybe the problem..has been in many cases), and certainly the wrap or any kind of heat shield won't hurt.
You have also received other good sound advice, have you inspected, ruled them out?
The more information (what you have already done) you provide the greater the likelihood of resolving this problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
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battery condition ? charged, old, dead, new ... is your car charging the battery while running ?
wrapping any electrical motor is a bad ideal, ..wrapping the motor will also contain heat.
heat shield good ideal, you also need to check, all electrical/gnd. connections not just look at them.
wrapping any electrical motor is a bad ideal, ..wrapping the motor will also contain heat.
heat shield good ideal, you also need to check, all electrical/gnd. connections not just look at them.
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From: mount holly NC
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Are your battery cables original?
Could they be somewhat corroded and creating to much resistance to turn the starter when hot?
Could they be somewhat corroded and creating to much resistance to turn the starter when hot?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Redondo Beach, California
Just a comment.....whenever someone has an opportunity to replace a starter, I'd really recommend getting a GM mini-starter. GM Performance Parts catalog, last time I looked has a high torque mini-starter designed for their big (562) Big Blocks. The mini-starters are lighter weight than stock and produce more cranking torque. Since they are smaller, there's more distance between them and the exhaust manifolds.
..And also, my apologies for another mundane suggestion...is the battery fresh? A lead acid battery, if it's ever been completely dead (flat) will automatically loose at least 1/3 of its capacity...will loose more capacity if it was old to begin with. For a new engine install, maybe not driving the car for a while has allowed the battery to discharge? A hot starter has a higher impedance than when cold.
545 cubic inches? Must have a lot of torque!!
..And also, my apologies for another mundane suggestion...is the battery fresh? A lead acid battery, if it's ever been completely dead (flat) will automatically loose at least 1/3 of its capacity...will loose more capacity if it was old to begin with. For a new engine install, maybe not driving the car for a while has allowed the battery to discharge? A hot starter has a higher impedance than when cold.
545 cubic inches? Must have a lot of torque!!
Last edited by 68/70Vette; Aug 1, 2015 at 11:28 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Canboro Ontario
My bad, it is a 454 not 545. The car is for the most part original. It has been rebuilt from the ground up. The starter is an original rebuild, with the factory heat shield. The grounds and cables are all new and have been checked. The battery is charging and seems to be fine. as the engine runs.
Last edited by oldsarge; Aug 2, 2015 at 10:42 AM.
Pro
Joined: May 2013
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From: Rapid City South Dakota
[QUOTE=68/70Vette;1590181247]Just a comment.....whenever someone has an opportunity to replace a starter, I'd really recommend getting a GM mini-starter. GM Performance Parts catalog, last time I looked has a high torque mini-starter designed for their big (562) Big Blocks. The mini-starters are lighter weight than stock and produce more cranking torque. Since they are smaller, there's more distance between them and the exhaust manifolds.
..And also, my apologies for another mundane suggestion...is the battery fresh? A lead acid battery, if it's ever been completely dead (flat) will automatically loose at least 1/3 of its capacity...will loose more capacity if it was old to begin with. For a new engine install, maybe not driving the car for a while has allowed the battery to discharge? A hot starter has a higher impedance than when cold.
A load test on the battery will determine if it's capacity has been reduced, and they are cheap and easy.
..And also, my apologies for another mundane suggestion...is the battery fresh? A lead acid battery, if it's ever been completely dead (flat) will automatically loose at least 1/3 of its capacity...will loose more capacity if it was old to begin with. For a new engine install, maybe not driving the car for a while has allowed the battery to discharge? A hot starter has a higher impedance than when cold.
A load test on the battery will determine if it's capacity has been reduced, and they are cheap and easy.