Finishing a cosmetic restoration of a car I picked up in the spring.


Mechanically...new power steering, fan, radiator, water pump, master cylinder. Readjusted valves (comp cam, valves ticked). Engine turns freely without plugs, some resistance with. I touched nothing else.


Electrically...new light harness in engine bay, fresh alternator, new tach/clock, fixed sloppy wiring under the dash to the tach/clock/radio and dash flood light. Replaced wiper switch. New battery, fully charged, same cables as it had before, did not undo the positive cable from the starter.


When I go to start it, the starter solenoid engages (you can clearly hear it), but the starter motor does nothing. I checked all connections and they are tight and clean. The horn works as do the lights. Heck, even the key buzzer works when you insert the key. Car ran well before I started, it just leaked, ticked and whined.


This is a 71 442, 455, 4-speed.


HELP ME PLEASE, I AM STUMPED! Too bad, it looks great, my wife is accusing me of building a "model car".

 

If the solenoid clicks then it is moving internally/mechanically. That leaves either a solenoid that is moving mechanically but does not make an electrical connection or a bad starter motor. Is there battery voltage to the tab that sticks up out of the starter motor and attaches to the solenoid via a screw when the key is cranked? If no, bad solenoid. If yes, bad starter motor. Good luck!

 

Have you given the starter a tap or two with a hammer, lightly of course?

This sounds like a primary problem. So its the battery, cables or starter/solenoid.

 

X2 with Sugarbear and don71 , a couple taps or you could also try a srewdriver at the starter.

 

Is there a good connection to the big lug on the starter? Are both the pos/neg cable lugs and battery terminals clean and shiny? Is there a good ground connection to the block? Have you tried banging the starter with a hammer with the key in the start position?

 

If you tap on the starter, have the car on the ground (all four wheels) disconnect the coil wire first, be certain the car is in neutral with the wheels blocked and a person is holding their foot on the brake. Use caution because it is a manual transmission, if it is in gear and cranks it will move whether it starts and runs or not.

 

Great feedback, thanks! Will advise.

 

Dropped the starter. Even though I said I didn't touch the positive battery cable, didn't matter, that is what it was. The lug was broken clean off at the bend.


New cable, swapped starter while I was down there, started right up.


Did have to drop the exhaust, but that wasn't too bad. Not an awful job, used the box the starter came in to hold it up close enough to wire it and position it.


Still have another problem to solve. The brakes aren't right. But that is another post!