Help ! Frustrated - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Als454 · 05-29-2003, 10:17 PM

I have two problems which happened at the same time although I don't think they are related.

First a little background. The truck is a 72 C10 two wheel drive, automatic. The engine is a 74 passenger car block "454" with HEI ignition. The truck has never been road driven and the engine has maybe 2 hours on it.

1st problem: I replaced the starter today because the headers cooked the 1st one. I bought a heat shield for the new starter.
Installed the new starter, truck started fine.
I drove the truck outside and backed it up. That's when it shut off by itself. When I tried to restart it it kept on cranking even after I released the key. I believe the solenoid is sticking even though I removed the the starter and reinstalled it. The reason I say that is I even went so far has to cut the wire leading to the solenoid while it was cranking and it still kept cranking.

2nd problem: The engine shutoff because it appears to have no spark. What would cause this?

Als454 · 05-30-2003, 01:53 AM

TTT

ckenwright · 05-30-2003, 02:25 AM

1st problem, Looks like your solenoid shorted across. Take your starter back they sold you a defective one.

2nd problem, You need to diagnose it further. Do you have spark from the coil? Do you have spark to the distributor? Do you have power to the coil? Are your point good?

ddsmith · 05-30-2003, 07:23 AM

Check for spark. Check 12 volt supply to the distributor. If you have juice there. The weak link on HEI is the module in the distributor that tells the system when to fire to each cylinder. The module is what I would bet on for lack of spark. About $25 at the autoparts store. Don't forget the grease on the back of the module or you'll fry the new one. As for your other problem I would check clearance between the starter gear and the flywheel ring gear. If adequate clearance doesn't exist then the starter will throw the starter gear out to engage the flywheel but will not be able to release. This keeps the juice flowing through the large wire through the starter to ground and the starter will keep cranking. The clearance should be about the size of paper clip wire. Shim the starter out to get the right clearance. It will be a pain to check but if you trash the flywheel gear it will cause greater pain. When the engine starts it would push the gear out of engagement but if you have this problem and don't fix it it will continue wearing out.

05-29-2003, 10:17 PM	#1
Als454 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Vienna, Ohio, USA Posts: 259	Help ! Frustrated I have two problems which happened at the same time although I don't think they are related. First a little background. The truck is a 72 C10 two wheel drive, automatic. The engine is a 74 passenger car block "454" with HEI ignition. The truck has never been road driven and the engine has maybe 2 hours on it. 1st problem: I replaced the starter today because the headers cooked the 1st one. I bought a heat shield for the new starter. Installed the new starter, truck started fine. I drove the truck outside and backed it up. That's when it shut off by itself. When I tried to restart it it kept on cranking even after I released the key. I believe the solenoid is sticking even though I removed the the starter and reinstalled it. The reason I say that is I even went so far has to cut the wire leading to the solenoid while it was cranking and it still kept cranking. 2nd problem: The engine shutoff because it appears to have no spark. What would cause this? __________________ 72 Chevy A/C P/B P/S Tilt 454 Engine 400 TCI Trans C30 Frame C10 Suspension Short Wheel Base (Dually)

05-30-2003, 01:53 AM	#2
Als454 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Vienna, Ohio, USA Posts: 259	TTT __________________ 72 Chevy A/C P/B P/S Tilt 454 Engine 400 TCI Trans C30 Frame C10 Suspension Short Wheel Base (Dually)

05-30-2003, 07:23 AM	#4
ddsmith Glowing since 1978 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lusby,MD,USA Posts: 532	Check for spark. Check 12 volt supply to the distributor. If you have juice there. The weak link on HEI is the module in the distributor that tells the system when to fire to each cylinder. The module is what I would bet on for lack of spark. About $25 at the autoparts store. Don't forget the grease on the back of the module or you'll fry the new one. As for your other problem I would check clearance between the starter gear and the flywheel ring gear. If adequate clearance doesn't exist then the starter will throw the starter gear out to engage the flywheel but will not be able to release. This keeps the juice flowing through the large wire through the starter to ground and the starter will keep cranking. The clearance should be about the size of paper clip wire. Shim the starter out to get the right clearance. It will be a pain to check but if you trash the flywheel gear it will cause greater pain. When the engine starts it would push the gear out of engagement but if you have this problem and don't fix it it will continue wearing out. __________________ 66 Chevy C30 Stakebody Dump, PS,PB, 327cu in 71 Corvette Coupe 454 4 speed 69 Chevy C20 Custom Camper

05-30-2003, 02:25 AM	#3
ckenwright Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 104	1st problem, Looks like your solenoid shorted across. Take your starter back they sold you a defective one. 2nd problem, You need to diagnose it further. Do you have spark from the coil? Do you have spark to the distributor? Do you have power to the coil? Are your point good?



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