Cranked fine now, no crank
 

77 Pontiac lemans with a 403 olds just got the motor all set and ready to go. The engine started just fine a handful of times, but now it won't crank at all. Key on power is still working as the blower motor and Seatbelt buzzer work fine. Had O'Reilly check the starter and battery. Both are fine. I checked the flywheel bolts there good and tight. Any thoughts. She original came with a olds cause of emissions, so please none of the nonsense.

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Try moving the trans shifter, possibly neutral safety switch out of adjustment. You need to check for power at the small terminal on starter
usually purple wire, while in crank position to see if ignition switch and neutral safety are good. Try turning engine over by hand. Also check ground wire from battery to block.

Turn the headlights on and crank the motor. If you do not see the headlights dim then the starter is not even trying to spin the motor over.

On the other hand if when you go to crank the motor and all you hear is the sound of the drive smacking the flywheel then the motor itself is lockup and that could be for a few reasons.

By the way the Olds 403 is a great motor if you put different heads on it.

It’s got a real big bore, 4.315”.

Does the starter "click"? If not you are going to have go to starter solenoid and check for voltage and work your way back.

The ignition switch is on the top of the steering column down near the brake pedal.

It’s driven by a rod coming down from the key tumbler.

Drop the column down and notice that the switch is not only held onto the column by two 5/16 “ headed machine screws, but those screws hold the adjustment position of the switch also.

Try loosing those two screws some and push the switch back up towards the steering wheel while the key is in the crank position.

Sometimes this simple readjustment is all that’s needed because the switch is worn a tad.

2nd trying it in neutral. I had that happen to me with my B&M shifter. Wouldnt start when I was away from home. On a whim I put it in neutral and it started. Turns out the microswitch for the NSS had moved and wasnt quite engaging in park.