Truck won't start!

[ZMAR]

First off, I finally got a key made by taking the pass tumbler out to get fitted. It turns the ignition flawlessly. I removed the spark plugs and poured in some mystery oil (have been doing this once a week and manually turning the motor). I hooked the positives up first then the negatives. All lights came on and dash works! I went to turn the motor over and it did turn a few times until my jumper cables started smoking ONLY on the posts. I waited awhile and tried again this time starter did nothing just all the smoke off the battery. Wth is going on? Bad ground somewhere? Fried starter?

P.s. no I did not hook them up backwards!
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[MacGyver72]

Yes, check your ground cables and check the positive cable at the starter. Check the cables themselves too. Are they fairly new?

[ZMAR]

Yes they are brand new. Cheapos though. Ill check cable to starter. Just installed ground cable so it should be good
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[ZMAR]

I might add that it seemed really hard to turn over. Like the battery was dead
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[jborders]

did you put the plugs back in before you tried to start it? If you have been pouring oil into the plug holes and then put plugs back in it with standing oil in there it might make it hard to turn over. You might want to leave the spark plugs out and turn it over a few times to blow all that oil out of there before you actually try to start it. just a thought.

[dwarf717]

whichever cable is the hot one, is where the problem lies. A hot ground cable means bad ground, or too small a guage cable. Hot positive means something is drawing too much, or too small a guage cable. Try hooking your booster cables to the truck itself. Battery+ to the solonoid, and Battery- to the engine block, and see if that works. If it does, I would say you have a problem with your cables, and/or connections

[chevytruckluver]

As stated above, I would try spinning the motor over (with the starter) with the plugs out first. also, be sure you have a good ground from the frame to the engine.

[ZMAR]

Originally Posted by jborders

did you put the plugs back in before you tried to start it? If you have been pouring oil into the plug holes and then put plugs back in it with standing oil in there it might make it hard to turn over. You might want to leave the spark plugs out and turn it over a few times to blow all that oil out of there before you actually try to start it. just a thought.

That makes sense. Ill definitely try that for the next go around.
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[ZMAR]

Originally Posted by dwarf717

whichever cable is the hot one, is where the problem lies. A hot ground cable means bad ground, or too small a guage cable. Hot positive means something is drawing too much, or too small a guage cable. Try hooking your booster cables to the truck itself. Battery+ to the solonoid, and Battery- to the engine block, and see if that works. If it does, I would say you have a problem with your cables, and/or connections

They both go up in smoke and so hot u can't touch w/ bare hands. If I hook the cables to the truck itself what should I look for? Hot wires?
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[MacGyver72]

dwarf717 is right about the wires. If they're not the proper gauge, You'll have issues. Also, are you jumping this with another vehicle or using a charger? Has the starter been removed? The starter grounds to the block and if it's been removed any oil or dirt between the mating surfaces can cause problems.

[jborders]

I bet it's hydrolocked. I had an engine do the same thing one time. It was a 5.3 conversion i was doing it hadn't been running in six months or so. the first time i tried to start it it turned over a few times then acted like the battery was dead. so i charged the battery all night and the next day same thing. I tried to turn it over by hand and couldn't budge it. finally pulled the plugs out and realized the #3 fuel injector was stuck open pouring gas into the cylinder. replaced the injector pulled the plugs spun it over and blew all the gas out of it. replaced plugs and its been fine ever since. obviously you don't have an injector stuck but any liquid on top of that piston or several pistons will do it if its enough.

[MacGyver72]

I agree with the members that say pull the plugs and turn it. Lubing the cylinders probably has them doing unbelievable compression that the starter can't overcome.

[ZMAR]

Ok guys I'm going to try running bigger/better wires. Replacing starter. Also will blow the oil out. What does the little wire that comes off the pos side straight to a fuse block looking thing run to? Just noticed nothing works at all unless it is hooked up
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[jborders]

that wire goes to circ. breaker on pass side fender. then over rad. support. to fuse box i think. It runs everything, its normal. if its not there nothing works. What is the history with this? Has it been sitting for a long time? I'm just wondering because the way i look at it if it was running at one point the wires and starter probably were ok. Granted age takes its toll on things but I would try doing one thing at a time. Clean the oil out first see what that does. If that doesn't do it then go from there. Might save yourself some money.

[ZMAR]

Originally Posted by jborders

that wire goes to circ. breaker on pass side fender. then over rad. support. to fuse box i think. It runs everything, its normal. if its not there nothing works. What is the history with this? Has it been sitting for a long time? I'm just wondering because the way i look at it if it was running at one point the wires and starter probably were ok. Granted age takes its toll on things but I would try doing one thing at a time. Clean the oil out first see what that does. If that doesn't do it then go from there. Might save yourself some money.

It has been sitting for 8 years.
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[cdowns]

like they said spin without plugs// if i had the plugs out i'd just go ahead and replace them// i'd replace the fuel filter that is inside the carb inlet line// i'd clean and set the points to remove corrosion and oxidation from sitting// then i'd try to fire it up

[MacGyver72]

Sitting for eight years changes some things. Cdowns has the right approach. I'd also pull the carb and clean it out to get rid of gum and varnish, lube the dist weights, check the vacuum advance with a hand pump and in the words of Charlie Daniels from Uneasy Rider.....".....jump in and fire that mother up!" LOL.

[ZMAR]

Thanks for the help guys. Should I drop the oil pan and clean it out? I mean 8 yrs is a LONG time
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[MacGyver72]

It's been awhile since I've been under one of these but I think to drop the pan, you need to remove the engine. I would recommend that after you get it running that you put a can of motor flush in it. Follow the directions and change the oil. That should clean out any sludge in the motor.

[jborders]

i'm curious. any updates?

[ZMAR]

Originally Posted by jborders

i'm curious. any updates?

Not yet! Really busy on the last quarter of the year! Maybe this weekend I can get something done. I also have a 2 month old at home!
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[data89]

If this is your '69 you're talking about, you just need to take the front motor mount bolts out and after removing the starter, jack up the engine until you can put a 2" blocks of wood between the flanges of the engine mounts and the engine. Remove the jack and providing you've taken all the bolts out of the oil pan, slide it out towards the flywheel. Might as well degrease it and the starter and paint it while it's out. Don't leave the engine propped up overnight, just the few hours you need to do the job. Put your new seals in and no more drops on the floor...well maybe a couple.

[PanelDeland]

I would get it running before pulling the pan.Take th fuel line that runs to the fuel pump from the tank loose and use a longer piece to run into a gas can.That way you will be getting fresh fuel instead of varnished up old junk from the tank.Pour a couple onces in the carb right before you try to start it.