454 no start help!

[UBLUZIN]

Hey i have a 454 and looking for some help. I drove it yesterday and it was fine,i came home parked it and went to bed, the next morning i went out and started it and it was fine. I moved it and went to restart it about 4 hrs later and nothing, it acts like it has a dead battery but i had the battery checked and its fine. It cranks but hardley its real slow and it barley turns over. I put a new starter and still the same thing. Also the battery cables are new. I can turn the engine over when a ratchet so im pretty sure its not locked up. Is there anything that im over looking? I guess i need to make sure im getting a full 12v at the starter?, but if im not what should i look for? Any help would be great.

[scottco]

Check the timing, If the dist. bolt is not tight it may be off a little. Timing chain may be worn and jumped a tooth....

[Hotrodrobert]

Where is the ground cable attached?

[raceman6135]

You may have a problem with the ignition switch and/or its wiring. If it's old, corroded, worn out, etc, it may not be allowing the proper power through to the starter solenoid and/or ignition primary system.

[Goldfinger]

take a multimeter and trace your voltage from the battery then to the junction block on the firewall to the starter. the voltage should be the same at each point if not search the area for something that may hinder starting

[UBLUZIN]

ok ill check that stuff, anyother ideas?

[Goldfinger]

could the starter be loose?

[UBLUZIN]

what do you mean loose? I put a new one in and eveything is tight.

[chevyk10boy]

check power wire going to distributer.put a test light on it and see if it has power then check in side you dis. many things to check in side there

[Hotrodrobert]

Use a DVM to check voltage from the ENGINE to the NEGATIVE POST of the battery while someone turns the key to start. The voltage should be very close to zero.
I have seen problems with Chevys where the ground is connected to the alternator brace and the brace is not tight to the block or there is corrosion on the contact points between the cable and the block.
I have also seen starters from discount parts stores that you need a truck load of them to get one that will actually work-so "new" doesn't always mean "good".
If that fails, take out the plugs and turn the engine. It should turn pretty easily with a wrench. Not removing the plugs causes too much resistance from compression for a good test.

[ozark]

I had a similar problem years ago with a 454. It ran fine when I parked it. The next time I went to start it, it made a funny noise and then wouldn't turn over very fast. The stock plastic timing gear couldn't take the strain that time to get everything moving and sheared the teeth and jumped time. We thought it was the starter and even pulled it to try to start it. I put a new timing chain and gears in, it ran just like before, so I guess pulling it didn't bend too many valves.

[UBLUZIN]

Mine didnt make any noises that i remember.. This is just very frustrating to go from a great running truck one day to a lawn ornament the next..

[UBLUZIN]

Ozark mine wont even crank over.. Its like the starter isnt getting enough juice.

[Hotrodrobert]

FIRST do the voltmeter tests!!! If no result, remove the spark plugs and check for free rotation!!!!

[Hotrodrobert]

Another thing I just thought about. I have seen a few distributors that will stick in the full advance position and be very hard to start.

[UBLUZIN]

I just cant get over how it was fine the one day and wont turn over the next day. I took the ignition switch out and took it apart, there was what looked like a burnt contact so i switched the copper blocks around and cleaned it up but that did nothing, im going to order a new one tomorrow and try that.

[rwhit57]

Jump the starter at the solenoid with a screwdriver, if it does the same thing it's probably either the starter or timing. If it starts fine then you know, it's between the battery and the starter or starter to ign. Have you cleaned all the cables and checked the ground like was suggested? That's where to start for sure.

[ozark]

A digital volt-ohm meter right now will save you alot of time and dollars.

[UBLUZIN]

How could the timing got off? All i did was park it. never touched the distributer?

[Hotrodrobert]

Originally Posted by ozark

A digital volt-ohm meter right now will save you alot of time and dollars.

X2 what he said!!!
Timing can get off by having the dist. advance weights stick which will have too much advance but probably still start, and by failure of the timing gears or the distributor drive gears.

[UBLUZIN]

If the timing gears go wouldnt there be some kind of noise?

[Hotrodrobert]

Seen a few break and sometimes you get noise, sometimes not. If the chain and/or gears are worn enough, they may just jump one or a few teeth and just won't start again. OFTEN happens trying to start, heard that more than a few times!!!!!!

[UBLUZIN]

I put a new iginiton switch and that didnt do anything. I hook a button to the starter and it did the same thing. So now im thinking its something with timing. How can i be sure it is?

[Hotrodrobert]

Originally Posted by UBLUZIN

I put a new iginiton switch and that didnt do anything. I hook a button to the starter and it did the same thing. So now im thinking its something with timing. How can i be sure it is?

GET AND USE A VOLTMETER. Post what you find then we can help you better but you really need to do that first.

[UBLUZIN]

Sorry for the ignorance but what do you want me to test? what wires?