I have a 383 in my IROC, around a 11:1 compression ratio. I have a Powermaster mini starter that is good up to a 18:1 ratio. Last week the car wouldn't even turn over, checked power everwhere, and I have power to the starter, both to the Battery side and the switch side, but it will not turn over. So I pulled the starter and bench tested it, and it runs. Now what? Can a starter run on the bench and not have enough power to turn an engine over? It is a new 383 so things are still tight. I have noticed that when the car is warm it does not like to start, I real have to crank it. I will also admit that I beat on the starter when I was trying to get the engine fired up. I had it over 200 deg. and number of times. If it was just dead, I would understand, it worked hard, but to run, but not run, what's up with that?

 

What voltage are you getting at the solenoid on the start wire from the ignition switch?

 

At the switch I am getting 11.47 Volts. On the Battery side I am pushing 12 Volts. It sounded like it push/threw the gear out once, after I put the starter back into the car, but I can't be sure.

 

You need to know what voltage you're getting at the starter under these conditions.

You can lose voltage along the wires, at the ignition switch, and at the clutch safety switch.

 

I checked with an expert at the electrical repair shop, their business is starters and alternators. They said a starter can have enough power to run on the bench, which takes very little, but not have enough to turn over the engine. So it looks like the starter needs some work.