[Dave Smith]

I recently had a engine built for my 69 GTO.
We used a 1974 400 block, 13 heads, and 068 cam. The engine was bored 30 over and new pistons, rings were put in.
My problem is that the engine seems to turn over very hard and will crank very slowly. The battery will go dead if you crank more than about 30 seconds even with a battery charger hooked up and set on starting boost.
The engine was run long enough to break in the cam and then driven home (about 5 miles).
Will this engine loosen up when it is driven more or is something misaligned?
The battery is 500+ cca but is only 1 year old, and I don't think it should go dead this quickly.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

[1970cat]

wouldn't hurt to check your negative battery cable also. may have to scrape paint frrom where it connects to the head.

[Lerry: The Body Ventura..]

Definitly a bigger battery as mentioned and also check timing as mentioned. Engine is tighter now with rebuild. More compression, more cranking amps. Especially if the old rings were leaking...

[6t7goat]

I had the same thing happen to me. My car started great until I rebuilt the engine. When I put the new engine in I constantly had to jump start it. I put in a 1000 ca battery and have yet to have a problem. As it turns out my old battery was only putting out about 375 amps.

[gto_guy]

I agree get a bigger battery.Mine is 1000cca

www.cardomain.com/id/gto_guy

[basketcase70gto]

A guy I know told me a story of his neighbor rebuilding a sb mopar. His neighbor came over and asked if he would come over a look at his engine because it was hard to turn over. When the got there his neighbors kid and a buddy had a 36" pipe wrench and a 5' bar on the balancer and the kid was cranking the starter and it still wouldn't turn! Turned out they put all the connecting rods in with the chamfers facing each other. They also said the rod caps would not slip on by hand to whole way so they cranked the down with the nuts. Some people should not pick up tools.

[Dave Smith]

I recently had a engine built for my 69 GTO.
We used a 1974 400 block, 13 heads, and 068 cam. The engine was bored 30 over and new pistons, rings were put in.
My problem is that the engine seems to turn over very hard and will crank very slowly. The battery will go dead if you crank more than about 30 seconds even with a battery charger hooked up and set on starting boost.
The engine was run long enough to break in the cam and then driven home (about 5 miles).
Will this engine loosen up when it is driven more or is something misaligned?
The battery is 500+ cca but is only 1 year old, and I don't think it should go dead this quickly.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

[STripleduce]

With the plugs out put a tq wrench on the balancer bolt it should take no more than 40-45 ft lbs to turn the motor.If its more than that I have seen rope seals cause up to 50 when installed wrong.Anything else would require teardown.

http://community.webshots.com/user/stripleduce

[gold79TA]

Same thing happened to me. Turns out the new headers finished cooking the old starter causing it to draw too much current. Rebuilt starter fixed the problem but only lasted about a year and a half.

[Blackcat]

Get a bigger Battery!
You need at least 800 CCA!
I normally get the Biggest case and the most CCA I can!
I normally run 1000 CCA

Usually I'm found working on my Pontiac. If you want to find me Look for the white picket fence and all the old Pontiacs parked outside. And the half dissembled engine sprawled all over the driveway!

[goatseeker]

Dave,
Where is your initial timing set? Have you tried retarding timing a little to see if it cranks easier?

http://kurtspontiac.homestead.com/TimSimpson66GTO.html

[Bud Lyons]

I have an 1100cca spinning my 462.



My Rig's a little old, but that don't mean she's slow.