after putting a new starter in the 84 it wouldn't turn the engine. so i used some shims and it still didn't turn. i played around with some combinations for a while with no luck so i loosened up the spark plugs and nothing. then finally i took out all the plugs and belt and the engine turned fine, no bad sounds of the starter slipping or grinding. so then i put the belt on and it still worked fine. i took two plugs and put them the whole way in and just like before the engine wouldn't turn. i even tried another battery and it still didn't turn. any ideas :confused:

 

Actually, I'm thinking this has nothing to do with your engine having too much compression. In my opinion, you have a bad case of an intermittent starter solenoid. You can test this, you know.

Get underneath with a multimeter and measure voltage (carefully so you don't short out). Make sure you're getting 12 volts when someone turns the start key for you, at the solenoid. I think it'll always have 12 volts there. Now have him do it while you measure for voltage at the starter itself (where the fat copper wire or band comes out of the solenoid and into the starter motor). If you don't have 12 volts there, then that's your problem.

I think it's just coincidence that it turned over with the spark plugs out of the engine.
Just on a hunch, check that, and then bang the solenoid with a hammer and long rod or socket extension (accessible from above). Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. If it works, it might then actually start.

Even if it does, if your solenoid was confirmed stuck with the voltage check, then you need to pull your starter and exchange it. If you bought it from a discount auto parts store, just get back your money. I have VERY bad luck with anything electrical from those places. Go to a more reputable place such as Napa, Carquest, or the dealer even.

 

i finally did get it turn the engine over with plugs and all but get this. when i hooked everything up i used a jumper cable from the ground of the battery to the ground cable just in case something wasn't hooked up right i just pull the jumper. then i got the idea to hook the battery up directly to the cable and it started just fine. i cut the jumpers apart to find there was maybe enough copper to wire a speaker or map light. i have got two sets of jumpers and this set is thicker and looks more up to the task, guess i was wrong. i messed with that starter for four days because of the jumper, but at least it starts now :cheers: :cheers: