URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Ok so I tried starting my truck for today, and it would crank but wouldn't start, then after awhile it stopped cranking and started making a really loud scraping noise like a train scraping against its tracks, but louder. I took a look under the hood and every time we tried starting it, the alternator would move maybe a centimeter then jolt back. I'm really worried because I don't know what's wrong and hoping I don't have to buy something very expensive. Thanks everyone!

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Almost sounds like ground teeth on the flywheel/flexplate. I hope not..See if you can get the engine to turn by hand to get another spot on the flywheel and try again. that should tell you.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

X2

Like hamjet said, try rotating engine by hand. It may help to put a breaker bar on the big bolt in the center of the crank pulley, for assistance.
if the problem is the starter, it will just make a horrible noise again. If the problem is the teeth on the fly wheel / flexplate, it might just turn over and start.
...or, it could be something completely different. But this is a good place to start looking. Good luck.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Thank you all! I will try to post a video on youtube of it and i will send you guys the link, and ill try what you said.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

kinda sounds like the starter isn't fully engaging. the solenoid may be worn out.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Ok, when it did crank did it seem to be cranking plenty fast...as usual? If not, and it was cranking a tad slow, it could be not enough charge to turn fast enough to start. Then, once lower it's not enough for the starter to fully engage the flywheel. Low voltage to starter will cause engagement issues.

Check the alternator mounting. sounds like it could be getting loose at mounts. I've had one come off the head before. There had been a helicoil put in one hole that I guess failed which caused the other bolt to shear. How tight is the belt? And, if you put pressure on the belt to take up slack does it make the alternator move? Other than the cold on your battery, maybe it hasn't been charging due to loose alt.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tZZBCbWz6Zg

I took a video, and posted it here. Couldnt really do much so thisll have to do. Sorry, in the vid i say i think thats the transmission, i just cant really see well, had my eyes dialated from eye drops

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Sounds like the flywheel lost some teeth or the starter nose broke. Get under there and take the shield off it it has one and look at the flywheel. I would take the starter off and start there.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Also could be the convertor bolts came loose or the flex plate broke. either way you need to see the flywheel and see if it's damaged.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Ok thanks dude. I cant get under there now due to ice and snow but when k can ill try

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

The cold weather these last few days in your area may be causing voltage issues so I'd give one more quick try with a jump start first. Like others said first turn by hand. See if the belt moves. Just in case the alternator or other belt driven component is seized locking the engine via the belt.

Then I'd drop the starter. Easiest thing to check and in my opinion the issue. Be careful though, you don't want to damage your flywheel - that sound isn't good.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

X2:metal:

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

as everyone else is saying check the starter nose and flywheel/flex plate. I drove my truck around for months with a messed up flex plate. then it wouldn't start at the gas pump when the starter bendix broke. I had another in the bed though.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Sounds like the starter gear is stripped or the teeth on the fly wheel.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Thanks for all the information everyone, im really thankful, but it doesn't sound likes its going to be to good :(. Im heartbroken to think I may have to sell it but I might not be able to afford it :'(. Im already heartbroken just thinking of what could happen. Thanks again everyone!

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Im horrified at the thought of even selling the truck. Its so far one of the worst things ive ever had to deal with. To me, selling this is like selling my child to someone, and constantly worrying that they will be taken care of well.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

How far out on Long Island are you. I'm in the poconos. Instant message me. Maybe I can shoot up there Monday. Give u a hand.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

You charged the battery, right? Don't give up the ghost yet, it's not near terminal with what you've presented.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

The battery is brand new, I will try charging it a bit to see what happens but I don't know if itll work.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

it sounds to me like either you lost some teeth, or perhapse the starter bolts came loose. throw down some cardboard and lay under there and pull the dust cover. Check the starter bolts first. If they are tight, you can either try to turn the fly wheel by putting a wrench on the bolts for the torque converter and turning it, or using a pry bar putting in the teeth and prying against the engine. Either way, it isn't worth getting rid of the truck, the starter and flywheel could be easily, and cheaply changed.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Thanks a lot for the info man! My problem is storage and money, i dont have much money, or the storage to do a lot of that stuff. Im hoping i can keep it, and chances are I probably will. thank you again! Will do!

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Try taking the alternator belt loose then see if it will crank. I had an alt once that lost the bearing and locked up. It wouldn't let the engine turn over, would just jerk a little bit. I actually changed the starter thinking that was the problem. It's worth a try.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Ok Ron, ill try! lets hope so! When someone started the car for me and I watched the motor, the alternator moved like an inch, then just jolted back to where it was.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Take a moment to breath ! Ok first get someone that knows a little about engines to help you ! It's cold outside I know, that makes things worse. Everyone on this site has had problems at times, we will all try to help , but You need to get under and try to eliminate things one by one...:metal:

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

First off you don't sell em because they are broken.. you fix them. Try to sell something with a 50 dollar part broken and your gonna loose tons of money.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Thanks a lot guys for the help. Means a lot! My problem is that if it needs a new flywheel i dont have the money to fix it, or a space to keep it.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

I may be able to do the swap, but im not sure yet, i have to check my starter first. It could just be a problem with that, i dont really know.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

The thing is that unless you have a brand new car or truck with a big payment under full warranty your gonna have to learn to do some fixing or start paying someone to do it for you. That truck is probably one of the easiest things on the road to work on. Hell, you can practicably get under one with a 1/2" or 9/16" wrench and fix anything. Dont be over thinking whatever it is. I know it sucks when its cold and snowy but it would only take a few minutes to see any of the problems the guys have said to check. The flywheel is not an internal part and neither is the starter. Both those parts are not expensive and can be found at damn near any junk yard or parts house since those are not model specific parts. Is it a v8 or straight 6??

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

It has a swapped in 350 auto transmission. and its a bit hard to get under my truck lol, whoever owned it before the previous owner lowered just the front end lol. I may have someone who will help me fix everything for free, as long as I buy the parts, but I don't know if I can because the car isn't registered in my dads name, its in my moms name for now. As I've said I'm only 16 haha, I'm not the best with mechanics, but more knowing names and history and special editions and what not haha.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

I understand that you are young and this seems like a big deal, but the beauty of these beasts is that they are so simple ti work on that you could litterally change both the starter and the flywheel while sitting on the side of the road with just a jack and some very basic hand tools. You would need a wrench set, and a socket set and thats about it. The jack is just to lift the truck up enough to get under it. Just be sure to disconnect the battery before you start wrenching on the starter as it has live wires on it that will arc.

I had one of these trucks when I was your age and I drove it to school, and then 45 minutes to work every day. I spent many times on the side of the road cleaning my holley carburetor because I had a dirty tank. Get yourself a book on your truck and start learning. You are still young and this is the perfect opportunity to learn about cars, something that will bennefit you for the rest of your life.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Thanks man! I need to get myself some jacks, I have the rest somewhere in my house haha. now say the flywheel is whats bad, what steps would I go through to change that?

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Oh and another thing. If you are scared to mess up on your own truck, do what me and my old man used to do, go pay the $2 at your local pull a part and tear apart one of ther vehicles. Great way to figure out the do's and don't s so when you get ready to work on your car you know what your doing. I remember many times going to pick n pull and spending hours there and not leaving with a single part.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

I would love to do that, but there's nothing like that here in LI. It sucks :(

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

pull the negative battery cable, pull the dust cover over the flywheel (if you have one), pull the (2) 9/16" bolts holding the starter up, push the starter towards the front of the engine to get it out of the way, remove the (3) bolts holding the torque converter to the flywheel an slide the torque converter back towards the rear of the truck and there should be just enough room to get a wrench on the (6) bolts holding the flywheel on the engine. they are either 5/8 or 11/16 . when you install the new one, be sure that the indentations where the bolts for the torque converter go are facing towards the rear of the truck.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Thanks for the info! ill do my best to get this done, as I cant do it now, more snow :/

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Dont sweat it bud, we all started somewhere. We all broke stuff learning and we all was intimidated at some point. But like i said, its a hell of a lot easier to learn on something like that old truck than it is something with all the spaghetti under the hood (wiring)
Im 44 and any time I open the hood on something new... I scratch my head and close it back up and call or take it to someone else lol

I already admire that you're so young and you are willing to own and drive the Old School stuff. Just dont go selling it just because its broke.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

Thanks man! I've wanted a classic car or truck ever since I was 4, and I'm happy to have one as my first car too :). If my truck happens to need a lot of work done to it, I may let it sit for a bit and get a second 67-72 as a daily until then :). I found a GMC with a plow setup on is for $1200 nearby, but it has a cracked frame :(. Is a cracked frame even fixable? And I honestly never want to own a car newer than 20 years old. I love classics and always will. I particularly love classics that are numbers matching original, because it makes me feel like I'm in the 70's or 60's, standing at a dealership waiting to purchase a "New" car haha!

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hahaha, a cracked frame is a hell of a lot harder to fix than a flywheel. you need to stay focused on this truck first. if you have 1200 for another truck, then you definitely have $60 for a new flywheel or starter.

Re: URGENT! Major problem! Need assistance!
 

well yes I can afford that, just not the labor cost and all that haha!

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and yeah I will, just was thinking of that plow truck to make some money plowing roads for people