so i just finished my 396 lt1 its in the car and ready to hear it run, but when i try to start it the starter just starts clicking like it would if the battery were dead, voltage meter is reading 13v on the dash, all the lights are bright but still wont turn over

i have tried two different batterys and they do the same thing, yet both batterys start my dads GTP grand prix just fine, so i know they have a good charge, and before the build both batterys ran my 357 LT1 and cranked it over just fine, so im going to buy a new battery tomorrow but i cant think of anything else it could be,

ive tried checking the block to battery to fenderwell grounds, all are good, i tried checking the 3 connections that go to the little 5/16s starter stud and they seem to be on tight, but it honestly seems like the starter isnt getting enough power to crank the engine over, im not getting any security lights so i know it isnt vats related,

are there any grounds that may cause weak power to the starter? i had this issue with another car of mine and i replaced an engine block ground and it worked but thats not the case here,

any help is appreciated

 

How did you check the ground and power cables? They usually corrode inside the terminals where you can't always see it. You can use a jumper cable to bypass each one temporarily.

 

If all lights stay bright, the gauge keeps reading approximately 12 volts, and you hear one loud click I would suspect the starter solenoid is not connecting the 12v supply to the starter windings. You shouldn't hear multiple clicks, just one click.

If you hear multiple clicks, but the gauge doesn't dip, either the voltagefrom the ignition switch to the starter solenoid is suspect or the solenoid isn't strong enough to overcome the spring inside it. Put a voltmeter on the small wire to the starter solenoid and observe the voltage reading when attempting to start the car.

 

Three wires to the stud on the starter? Isn't there just the purple wire? You don't have the black ground wire from the harness attached there also?

http://shbox.com/1/starter_charging_93.jpg

 

op

if it is your starter, many get the "vette" starter from Autozone. It is a gear reduction type which, for higher compression motors, works better. It is typically cheaper than a stock replacement starter

 

when you adjusted the valves was the oil pan on?