c30 starter, clunks when I turn key

[Dimebagdavesc30]

I have A 1972 Chevy C30 dump truck without the bed but still have the dump mechanicals. plan is for a flat bed that dumps with tool boxes on both sides. Problem is when I got the truck home and tried to start it all I hear was clunk. So I thought I need a new starter. So with new starter in hand I realize it just doesn't quite line up and is hard to even get it to set in right. So after a little filing to the part that hits the block I get it to bolt up. Start it and all I hear is clunk ever time. I think the starter gear is hitting the flywheel. it's a 350 with both block and trans housing mount. the block mounts don't even come close. I really need this truck to start but can't get the starter to start the truck. I would just love some Ideals as I am not a mechanic and am stumped.....mahalo for any and all help. 72' C30 dually

[custom10nut]

First thing. Is the nose cone the correct one? The correct one has a bevel on it so the the housing will clear the trans. The later ones will bolt in, but you'll never be able to line it up. Second, how does the flywheel (flex plate) look? When I was having issues, it always seemed to stop around the same place when shut off, so with the misalignment the flywheel would wear out in that area. I speak from experience here, as I was ready to give up on my truck until one day at the parts store an older gentleman told me I had the wrong housing nose. Well, la dee da! I got the right one and had few issues since. Another thing you might want to do is run your ground cable from the battery to one of the starter mounting bolts. It takes a 48 inch cable, but it really helps with hot starts.

[Dimebagdavesc30]

[IMG]file:///home/kawika963/Downloads/20160209_171219.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]file:///home/kawika963/Downloads/20160209_171219.jpg[/IMG]

here is the new starter installed.I bought the truck without starting it for 600.00 here is a few photos. I have yet have the starter spin the motor. the old starter when it came off was very hard to get off. the solenoid was busted so I just got a new one.mahalo for the input......

[Dimebagdavesc30]

[Dimebagdavesc30]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/319542...posted-public/

[Dimebagdavesc30]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/319542...posted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/319542...posted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/319542...posted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/319542...posted-public/

[custom10nut]

Are you missing a piece of the block? I can see the starter is the old type that bolts in horizontally, but It looks like one mount is gone

[kwmech]

Are you sure the engine is not seized up?

[snipescastle2]

Ditto on a missing chunk of the block, there should be bolt bosses for each bolt hole. Seizure may have caused it to rip that boss off the end of the block....hope that's not the case, but very likely.

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by kwmech

Are you sure the engine is not seized up?

Agree.

Put trans in neutral and try to turn the engine by hand with the front pulley. You can also use a socket on the front bolt, but if it is too hard you can break that off so be careful with that approach.

[Dimebagdavesc30]

the motor spins when the starter was down I thought I should try and move the flywheel and I got it to move like 15 teeth and yes the bolt hole is broke, I broke it when I tried to remove old starter because it fits so tight I can't hardly get it in or out(remember I had to file on the new starter to get it to bolt up)...... but my problem is the starter won't spin the motor, it just makes a clunk sound, the starter gear is not even spinning.....it's like it's hitting the flywheel. I'm going down to put the first starter back on(one in photos) and try shimming it and see if I can see what is going. I have two weeks to get this beast running and only one weekend......hey thanks for all the input it's not my first C model but the first one to restore......mahalo.......

[snipescastle2]

The torque of the starter motor may be "walking"
around the flywheel, in other words, it's trying to move away from the ring gear teeth because the motor isn't stationary anymore(because one of the bolts that isn't there to hold the motor while the bendix is trying to engage. IDK.
Ben

[kwmech]

Keep turning the engine, take it around a full 360. How many bolts holding the starter in? 1 or 2. If you have 2 of them in and tight, it should hold it enough to spin the engine or at least make a bunch of noise like it wants to

[Dimebagdavesc30]

actually the starter is tight with two bolts and it does in fact move the flywheel a whole 9 teeth. I scratched one tooth just to see if it was moving(doing by myself). So I think it's just might be stuck or is it building up compression since I haven't pulled the plugs because I could have swore the flywheel moved more than that...... The seller lied and said it was on the road a yr ago. doubt it. So scrap it or can it be saved, the motor not my sweet C30. I did find the date on the valve cover sept, 1971. I just can hardly wait to drive it...... mahalo everyone.......

[custom10nut]

Before you do anything else, pull all the plugs, rotate the engine by hand for a complete cycle, and watch the plug holes to see if anything comes out. You don't want to put yourself in the position where it happens to fire with a cylinder on the compression stroke Is full of water. (Had this happen one night in high school, when a joker pour water down my carb. It bent two connecting rods. Ha ha, very funny) then turn it over with the starter to see if it still does what you talk about. Good luck

[Dimebagdavesc30]

going there tomorrow and I'll try it, thanks all for all the help. The odometer says 67,000 but I can see the exhaust is done wrong and the front seal is bad.....

[Dimebagdavesc30]

well I pulled the plugs and messed with it. the motor moves but not 360 the starter moves motor to the stopping point. putting marvin's oil in tonight to let soak hope to get it spinning this weekend.

[MARKDTN]

I doubt that will do much. I'll bet you have internal damage. I would drop the oil pan at this point and see what is going on.

[special-K]

All pistons are moving when the engine turns what little it does. So, it's not any piston stuck in a cylinder.

[Dimebagdavesc30]

well going down after work, it's been soaking. If it don't go 360 might just pull the oil pan so maybe I can see what's up. it stops spinning so something is up..... I was lied to by seller so I have no ideal how long this truck sat. no way this was running a yr ago.....

[Dimebagdavesc30]

update on my C30. after thinking there was rusty cylinders, I decided to pull the motor. one problem, can't get all the fly wheel bolts out because it won't spin. So we thought we would just pull the heads and see what's going on. Well after two broken exhaust manifold bolts and one broken exhaust manifold the heads came off. So I got a piston not moving and stuck at the top. So I guess a broken connecting rod is hitting something. I just want the motor out at this point and find another to slap in.....would like to drive this this truck. It's a rolling rebuild that hasn't got rolling yet but it's been fun and I'm learning what to do and not do......i'll post photos when I get the chance.....