New motor kills starter?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
Glad that you brought this up Stump 
I was going to offer the comment on the possibility of the hydraulic issue of coolant. But I read that he wrote that the engine acted fine and then the started acted up. Not saying that this is still not a valid concern. But if it were that bad...you would be seeing some coolant dripping from exhaust pipe joints or blowing out the back in some degree.
I know when I do cylinder head gaskets. Before I crank the engine and all of the coolant has been put back in. I use my coolant pressure tester and pump the coolant system up and see if it holds pressure. If that passes....then I release the pressure and for giggles..I crank the engine and get it running and quickly look at the gauge that was on '0' psi....and make sure the needle does not being to climb with the obvious cadence of the cylinders firing. If that goes to plan. Put the radiator cap back on the radiator or expansion tank and do whatever else I need to do.
Make no mistake...an engine with enough coolant in the cylinder can bend a rod or break something.
DUB
I was going to offer the comment on the possibility of the hydraulic issue of coolant. But I read that he wrote that the engine acted fine and then the started acted up. Not saying that this is still not a valid concern. But if it were that bad...you would be seeing some coolant dripping from exhaust pipe joints or blowing out the back in some degree.
I know when I do cylinder head gaskets. Before I crank the engine and all of the coolant has been put back in. I use my coolant pressure tester and pump the coolant system up and see if it holds pressure. If that passes....then I release the pressure and for giggles..I crank the engine and get it running and quickly look at the gauge that was on '0' psi....and make sure the needle does not being to climb with the obvious cadence of the cylinders firing. If that goes to plan. Put the radiator cap back on the radiator or expansion tank and do whatever else I need to do.
Make no mistake...an engine with enough coolant in the cylinder can bend a rod or break something.
DUB
Last edited by DUB; Dec 10, 2017 at 05:53 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 414
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Hey guys,
finally got some time off from work and I took the starter to autozone where they tested. Test said it was working great. So I installed it again, and added two ground wires to the frame. It fired up and I was finally able to set the timing. It was pretty far off. Not sure how that happened, I'm normally pretty good at stabbing the distributor. So far all is well. But to be on the safe side, I ordered a new high torque mini starter from gm.
thanks everyone for the advice.
finally got some time off from work and I took the starter to autozone where they tested. Test said it was working great. So I installed it again, and added two ground wires to the frame. It fired up and I was finally able to set the timing. It was pretty far off. Not sure how that happened, I'm normally pretty good at stabbing the distributor. So far all is well. But to be on the safe side, I ordered a new high torque mini starter from gm.
thanks everyone for the advice.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
I don't know if this will remedy your issue but it is something to look at. When I purchased another mini-starter for my big block and it would start fine like the first two or three starts and then it would jam up. After numerous times pulling it I finally discovered (I'm a slow learner lol) that the cheap bolts that were sent with the starter were bent and not allowing the starter to work. Changed the bolts to a quality fastener and never had any more problems.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 816
Likes: 107
Sounds like you got it figured out, I put a Summit brand mini high tq starter on mine when i built this engine. I didn't want to fight these types of issues which I have experienced in the past. My engine is almost 12.1 so I needed some umff... anyway its been 12 years and I have never had any issues. I don't know who makes the starter for Summit but its been a great unit! Not to mention it being very small and light when needed to removed for whatever.
