Wouldn't start. Now starts!!???

[Dnrice]

Just brought my 71 C10 home from mechanic. First time home!!! Kids and wife love the look. It has 350 with a 350 turbo transmission and double hump heads. They changed the Holley carburetor which now has a choke and I drove it on the freeway fast, but not too fast because of the turbo transmission. It would backfire sometimes! Got home parked it and then tried to start it and it wouldn't start. It didn't turn. It was like it had a dead battery. Waited 20 minutes and it fired right up. What do you think the problem is? By the way, I am using high octane gasoline.

[GASoline71]

If your compression ratio isn't over 10:1, then you don't need to run premium fuel. The backfire could be timing related or a lean condition from not enough fuel. What model Holley? Was the fuel filter changed too?

Not sure what you mean by "not too fast because of the turbo transmission". My TH350 sees speeds close to 100 and is just fine.

Gary

[70c10stepside]

What size battery do you have? Timing seem ok? Grounds tight? Battery cables tight ?
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[Dnrice]

[trac209]

Sounds like timing isn't set properly. that and a hot starter and the truck will turn over slow. Once cooled it has enough torque to overcome the timing being off.

[Dnrice]

OK, I was wrong about carb. It is Edelbrock Carb 600 CFM with electric choke. Fuel filter was not changed. I might start there.

I was told by previous owner to run high octane because of the engine.

Also, I assumed that running without overdrive 70-80 mph was bad because of the high revs.

I think battery is fine because it has started a few times with no problems. Would electric choke cause it not to start? Thanks for the help.

[Dnrice]

Hey GASoline71, with turbo350 transmission are there any worries with freeway driving 70 mph for 30 miles?

[70c10stepside]

I personally dont think It'd hurt. Just keep an eye on temp, and oil pressure. Should be ok
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[TBONE1964]

So it will start when cool but not when hot?

When you say it would not turn like the battery was dead, did you try the head lights. Did you hear any clicking noise when it would not turn?

The electric chock may make it hard to start if it is not set correctly but it will not cause it not to crank over.

Incorrect ignition timing will make it crank slow but it will still crank.

Next time this happens, try the head lights and see if they look bright. Do you have a way to check the actual battery voltage?

[Dnrice]

Head lights work. However, you may be right in that when lights were on and I turned ignition key, they dimmed a little. It did NOT crank. Not even slowly. It didn't even tick. Just a faint hum. Now it runs!!!??

I am new to the truck and am starting to get to know her. That's the fun part as long as it is not a daily driver. It's like dating a woman and getting to know her before seeing her every day. We had our first date this evening. I may take her to Advance Auto and have them check battery. But it is strange that it runs now. I put a picture of her above in #4

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by Dnrice

Hey GASoline71, with turbo350 transmission are there any worries with freeway driving 70 mph for 30 miles?

Its not the MPH you should worry about, it is the RPM. If you have a 4:10 gear, then you might have to keep a closer eye on the temp.

[70c10stepside]

Do you know the size of battery and age of the battery?
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[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by Dnrice

Head lights work. However, you may be right in that when lights were on and I turned ignition key, they dimmed a little. It did NOT crank. Not even slowly. It didn't even tick. Just a faint hum. Now it runs!!!??

I am new to the truck and am starting to get to know her. That's the fun part as long as it is not a daily driver. It's like dating a woman and getting to know her before seeing her every day. We had our first date this evening. I may take her to Advance Auto and have them check battery. But it is strange that it runs now.

Sounds like your starter is getting hot. If the lights dim, that means the starter is drawing amps but because it is hot, it wants more amps than the battery can give it.

[Dnrice]

So I probably need new battery?

[70c10stepside]

Probably, If not your starter may go from messing with it much more. I've done that, sucks
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[Dnrice]

Thanks guys. This forum is awesome.

[PanelDeland]

Are you running headers or stock manifolds?If the exhuast is run close to the starter,you may be having a problem with the starter solenoid getting hot.

[Dnrice]

Don't know? I may have to take picture during day and post it. I don't even know where starter solenoid is on this engine. But, I think the manifolds are old which means they probably are stock.

[Dnrice]

Don't know? I may have to take picture during day and post it. I don't even know where starter solenoid is on this engine. But, I think the manifolds are old which means they probably are stock.

This a pic form craigslist before I bought it. Hard to tell.

[70c10stepside]

Your starter is on the passenger side of the block. In the rear, bottom
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[Dnrice]

Thanks

[TXTruck]

The non-starting when hot definitely sounds like a starter/solenoid problem. I replaced my starter back in January for the same problem. The backfiring could be several things. Was the truck running with the old carb? If so, did it backfire then? Did the mechanic put on a new fuel pump with the Edelbrock 600? Those carbs work best with about 6 psi (give or take half a psi).

As far as highway speeds are concerned, your rear-end gear ratio is a big factor. I've got a TH350 with 4.11 gears and the RPM's scream around 4500 when around 65 MPH. In fact, when I'm on the highway I watch the tach instead of the speedo.

[Dnrice]

Interesting TXTruck. I will check battery. Then if problem continues, I will look at starter/solenoid.

Truck was backfiring with new carb. When I bought it, it seemed very fast but throttle stuck (SCARY!! and it stalled) so changed to the Edelbrock600. No stalling but backfiring now. He did not change fuel pump. Is it easy to do?

In regards to TH350, I need to put a tach on the truck. I may keep it off freeway for awhile.

[TBONE1964]

The photo I attached is what a stock starter should look like on your truck. The smaaler round piece is the solenoid and is what the battery cable hooks too. It will be mounted on the passenger side of the engine.

Have your battery load tested before you replace it. If I was a betting man, I would put some money on your starter being the problem.

Curious to know how this all works out. Good Luck.

[Dnrice]

Thanks TBONE