1972 K10 - Starting Issue

[71chevswb]

Have a 72 K10 with a sbc 350 that has run great for many years issue free. Now it has a hard time starting. This seems to have occurred after sitting for 20 months. I don't recall this issue before. It eventually started after the motor would crank and it fires right up. The issue has gotten worse and worse and now it wont start. It physically feels like the starter is binding. You hit the key and the engine doesn't turn over, then it might crank a little then feels like it binds up again. Until today you could just try again and it would eventually fire. Now, nothing. Just binds and wont crank.

My mechanic friend (over the phone, not in person) thought it was maybe the HEI rotor getting hung up/stuck and it messed with the timing on start-up. I was able to pop the cap and mess with the rotor a little and eventually got it to start again but it still has a hard time starting. Anybody ever ran into this HEI issue/fix before?



Battery issue? Starter issue? Ignition? HEI? Any help is appreciated.

[KQQL IT]

Mine had a corroded cable between batter and starter. Only made 6v at the starter.
New cable and new mini starter made it start like a new truck.

[dmjlambert]

If you have this type of emergency repair terminal, change out your battery cables and do not use this type of terminal. I had the type of issue you describe with this type of terminal.

[71chevswb]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

If you have this type of emergency repair terminal, change out your battery cables and do not use this type of terminal. I had the type of issue you describe with this type of terminal.

Got a picture of a better terminal?

[dmjlambert]

Yes, ACDelco ACD# 4BC53X GM# 88860050


I went through shopping at auto parts stores and theirs are too cheapo and crack and fall apart right away. Here is too much information: https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=734496

There have been recommendations here on the forum for batterycablesusa.com and I may try them for the next truck.