Crazy starter issues!!!!!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Bayonne NJ
Crazy starter issues!!!!!!
Ok heres my problem... I recently rebuilt my 350 for my 79 vette. After putting the starter in I haven't been able to turn the motor over.. First It wouldn't turn over with the plugs in or out.. So i bought some shims... I got it to turn over with no plugs, then i re-installed the plugs again, still wouldn't turn over.. Got a tip from someone on the site to use the starter out of a 454.. Ordered that starter and put it in, still no dice.. I got it to turn over for about 4 seconds slowly with the plugs in.. Not enough juice to start the engine tho. Im tryin to start the car by jumping the starter itself, so i should be getting the right amount of voltage, its a high output batt out of my truck, the battery shouldn't be an issue.... any help hints or advice would be appreciated!!!! 
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,438
Likes: 458
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
...make sure you're getting FULL juice. Without trying to turn the car over, turn on the headlights. Are they dim??? Are they bright??? If the lights are dim, I'd say you have a connection issue. Now do this-if your lights are bright, try to turn the motor over. If the lights DO NOT dim as you're trying to turn it over, chances are you're NOT getting juice to the starter-if the lights dim heavily while you're trying to turn it over, the starter itself maybe locked. You can also try to "tap" the starter while someone is holding the key "ON" and see if you can get the starter to spin. I just changed yesterday the NEGATIVE BATTERY cable on my '68 convertible yesterday. Where it connects to the frame under the battery box, it was heavily corroded underneath the plastic sheathing and was "bulging" due to corrosion. I cleaned the terminals, the frame point where this cable attaches, charged the battery fully and she started right up.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 560
Likes: 1
From: Mooresville NC
Since you just rebuilt the engine, I'll assume all the tolerances were checked on the bearings and pistons and you primed the oil pump before trying to start it. Have you tried retarding the timing a bit? Too much advance will work against the starter.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 373
Likes: 1
From: Bayonne NJ
I dont think that it is a matter of timing or anything like that.. Im not trying to start it, just get it to turn over... the engine turn freely when it was still on the stand... I dont think that its an issue of grounding either... i jumped the started with cables... and grounded right to the starter itself.. The crank in it, is actually underbore, from being re-mic'ed... so that isn't the problem either... im stumped
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
It matters, check it. One way to do it is put a volt meter between the batt neg term and the frame ground point with the cable connected and hit the key. If you get more of a reading than a few milivolts, the cable is bad. Same thing on the starter cable. What this is doing is measuring the voltage drop across the cable under starter load. So 3 tests, battery to ground, motor to ground and battery to starter.
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 428
Likes: 1
From: West Des Moines Iowa
Just replaced my original starter due to similar issues. Had mine rebuilt for $40. When S&H electric pulled the armature out, it was found that the Field coils were taped together in one spot, thus causing my starter to turn over VERY SLOW, and sometimes not at all (electric thump sound). I lived with it for 2 years and finally had it rebuilt, now it starts faster than a honda civic. 
Gonzo
Gonzo
