acerocks666

Hey all, I have been busting my butt working on my 83 Z28 and am proud to say I am almost done (for now lol) I literally tore everything down except tearing into the engine to replace many things and clean it up. Last summer when I had the car going it had a horrible vacuum leak among other things which have all been taken care of along with all new exhaust and to much more to list. So today I got all the tires back on, got car off jack stands, Put in all the fluids, and put in battery to see what she sounded like. I was disappointed when i turned the key and got nothing.

So here is the breakdown of what I think is wrong just wanted some more input before I try to fix tomorrow. So when I turned over the key the car is reading good voltage and everything but when I try to crank it over it will just click once and engine doesn't even turn. I also do not get any lights or anything when I put key in. So I am thinking it is something with connections to my starter which was pulled off during exhaust work. If i am correct there is 1 small purple wire that connects to an S terminal closest to the block. Then I have another wire with big connector and the positive battery cable which hook to the big terminal. Both my battery cables are brand new and the positive comes up from the starter to the battery and has a smaller wire that comes from that to the alternator. The ground wire hooks to battery and also has a smaller wire that attaches to the inside fender wall.

First thing I will do tomorrow is check all of these connections and make sure they are solid just want to get some feedback on if I am correct on wiring or if anyone has any other ideas. A few other notes the battery is charged fully and is good and I did not feel the need to replace starter itself as It would start fine before. Appreciate any thoughts as always....

HF_monster

your going in the right direction, I'd also start by looking at my wire connections at the starter, check the block ground also, if everything checks out move to the neutral safety switch, then to the ignition switch, also make sure you are getting 12volts at the fuse block. Last but not least you said the battery was good did you verify this by doing a load test?

acerocks666

Thanks for the replay HF but I am not sure where the block ground connects. I had 3 large connectors that came off my old intake that were attached to a bolt on a small plate. I just took these 3 connectors and put then on 1 of my intake manifold bolts on the new edelbrock performer intake...

acerocks666

Well problem solved. Got under the car this morning to look at connections to the starter and behold my nut that holds on the positive battery cable and other wire was loose enough it had some play so tightened her up and she started right up after some starter fluid sounds great too. Now to set timing and few other little things to get her really ready thanks to all....

torque_is_good

83's are a 2 piece rear main if I'm not mistaken, Did you at least hoist up the engine a little and replace the rear main and oil pan gasket? If you removed all of the exhaust it would have been a good time to do it