Frustrated: Talk me out of selling

[GMCjunkie]

Yep, bought new STARTER bolts, didnt make adifference. I appreciate all the opinions here. An opinion is just that. Its what your believe in. Its what makes the world go around. I welcome everyones input, y'never know it just might be someone elses opinion that will fix my truck, matter of fact thats what Im counting on. Longhorn70/GMC, Billy, Not to worry darlin, my truck is only a portion of what keeps me here. There are too many wonderful people here for me to ever think of leaving.

[BLAZERMAN]

I fought a starter problem on my old 69 K-30 for almost a year...had just installed a new 350 engine and had even bought a new flexplate...it would start good for awhile and then eat up a starter... but never did sound right while engaging. I tried shims and yes even a mini starter with no luck...ended up putting a dial indicator on the flexplate and found it was warped pretty bad! Either I got a bad one or I bumped it against something while installing the motor. This probably wont apply to you unless your motor had been pulled for any reason prior to your problems. Just thought I would throw it out there...Good luck

[C-10 simplex]

i didn't have time to read all the threads but:


First the starter bolts must be actual and correct starter bolts--not just bolts that are the same size.

Another thing that can happen is are the bolts actually able to hold correct torque? After the starter has been removed/replaced a few times the bolt holes can get stripped rather easily. This is true for most other holes on the small block chevy---head bolt holes especially. This is another reason why studs are better than bolts but that's another topic.

i think the whole engine has to come out and this needs to be looked at very carefully. It's actually a pretty simple problem whatever it is.


Now as far as the whole giving up thing: These vehicles (older chevys) ARE the easiest/cheapest cars in the world to work on. i think most people here would agree with me.

IF you give up on this and get a new truck, nissan, honda, whatever, you think you're problems are now solved? Think again honey----more money, more complexity, more frustration, more down time etc. This small problem is actually very simple.

Taking the engine out will take less than 8 hours (much less if you're good) and then the problem is licked for good.


i hope there will be no more talk of giving up. (picture me with cigar and top hat while buttoning up my shirt...... )

[69GMCCustom]

GMC Junkie. I am new both to the forums, and to these models of vehicles, however i have owned several classic autos to include 3 66 mustangs and a 60 studebaker and my opinion will always be, the engine is the cheapest part on your vehicle. Some people may disagree, those that have build beautiful blueprinted or chromed engines in their vehicles, and honestly until now in my life I have not had the funds to do such, however... When you can purchase a rebuild engine for these trucks for under the price of a recovered original seat, (buddy bucket) it makes me wonder why anyone would sell a vehicle as beautiful as yours. Granted I can only see the pic in your post, but it certainly looks like you have enough in your vehicle already to make an engine look like a small investment. I hope you get your starter problem fixed.

[Dunenutt]

When I was just a young pup, I was having a really bad day working on my jeep. I was pulling the trans for the third time, and was fuming mad. My grandpa had come out several times that day to check on things. He never said a word ( he was like that, when he did speak, it was after much thought and consideration), and would go back inside. When I was at witts end, he came back out and said a phrase that shocked me, and I will never forget it. He said " I can't believe my grandson is letting an inanimate object kick his a$$", and he went back in.

I stared at that jeep and tranny for along time, figured out the issue, and put it back together. Grandpa said " feels good to win, does'nt it"!

That was 20 years ago! Last weekend I was under my truck pulling the trans, and I said out loud " cant believe you're letting an inanimate object ..." I laughed to myself, and kept plugging away at it.

Keep plugging away, it feels great to win!

[OJ1988]

Hope you guys are figuring it out!

[GMCjunkie]

I had to post pone due to sick kids, Kevin has been kind and patient enough to wait til next weekend to come over. Im loving yalls encouragement. Im not going to give up. I may have to walk away for a while again, but not giving up.

[50bomb]

If it where easy to build or fix then everyone would have one. Keep on workin at workin on the truck. But dont sell it just cause its being a pain. SHow it some love unconditionally haha.

[72BlckButy]

Awesome gesture Kevin... we should all be so willing.

Props buddy.

[matthones]

Any updates?

[HavinSomeFun]

No update.. Last weekend her kids were sick and this weekend mine were. Shooting for next saturday morning.

[treveiger]

Can't wait to see the out come
Posted via Mobile Device

[knsmodels]

so where we at with this????

[mmmBoost]

Is your starter the standard mount pattern or the staggered ???
---------
O=====O
---------

OR

----------
O======
======O
----------


In the past I've had to cut on shi, in half to get the right alingment on my staggered bolt starter for my 76 400 sb

[MacGyver72]

ttt

[Autoblueprint]

Originally Posted by domeier

I don't think I'd own one of these trucks if I couldn't work on it myself.

X2...and...these trucks need their own garage space.

Originally Posted by GMCjunkie

Encouragement or ideas please.

Sign-up for an auto course at your local community college. Work on your truck's problem(s) with the instructor's help on student shop night.

I know quite a few people who do this because they can't afford to buy a shop full of tools or they don't have a garage space...or both...and they have built nice vehicles for the price of tuition.

These trucks are a hobby and this hobby requires hours upon hours of research, learning, buying parts / tools and wrenching. That's what a hobby is, that's where your spare time goes.

[matthones]

You ever get it fixed?
Posted via Mobile Device

[HavinSomeFun]

She and I tried to meet up this weekend. However, she wasnt available. We are going to try again next weekend...

[eightbanger]

Originally Posted by HavinSomeFun

She and I tried to meet up this weekend. However, she wasnt available. We are going to try again next weekend...

Not again...? this is proving to be the longest running cliff hanger

[Rupdog]

i'm having the same problem. waiting to see what comes of it....

[j1970GMC]

I wanted to respond to the original post because I've been there with my 1970 GMC. After a couple of weeks without problems it was one thing after another (new transmission, alternator, drive shaft, oil pan leak, radiator...). The truck seems possessed and like it hated me. I eventually got everything worked out and now the truck is really solid, and I'm glad I kept going. My new take on it is that after all these years when you buy a truck as old as these you have to fix several bad mechanic's fixes. It's not the truck's fault...the 67-72s are build solid.

[FLEET72]

OK, a long shot but it is what was going on in my wife's 69 GMC.

We put on a new locking gas cap because some lowlife recently emptied my tank. The cap is not vented and as the temperatures rose during the day the building pressure forced gas past the needle in the carb and filled the #8 cylinder with gas hydro-locking the engine and no starter can overcome that. Pulled the plugs, spun the motor, dried the plugs and put 'em back in and all is well.

If you try this, be sure to disconnect the coil before you spin it over.

[Boog]

ttt for updates.

[treveiger]

You didn't sell it did you jk.
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[dirtyd_nd]

I know you said that you already bought new bolts but they may still be the issue. I was having the same issue, after starting the truck four or five times it would grind. I would take the starter off look at it, no issues, re-install and it would start fine. Did this pattern probably six times. I bought new starter bolts from NAPA, I think, and tried again. And again after five starts it was grinding again. i pulled the starter and walked away for about a month. When I set the starter down I put the bolts in the starter. Well when I went to pick it up the bolts had a lot of play in them. The part where the bolts flared out didn't flare out enough and the starter was shifting after five or so starts. I finally took my starter to a dealership and asked about starter bolts and if I could test fit them. They let me and they slid in without any play in them. $3.50 and five years later I have not had an issue again. I hope this helps.

Dale