Ok, I've searched and searched and can't find any answers. My '94 Z28 has been starting real hard since I fixed my blown head gasket. It sounds like metal on metal when I go to crank it. Just a big kachunk after about half a second. It's hard to explain, but it sounds like hell. And it almost fires up but then dies. Takes about 5 to 10 turns of the key to get it to fire up. By the way, it's about 10 degrees outside. Does it sound like a bad starter, battery, solenoid, or something I don't know about and will end up costing me a lot of $$$?

 

did you take the starter loose? if so it may not be shimed right causing a metal grinding noise. also did you adjust the rockers right? easy to mess up if you hae never done it before. how does it sound once it is running?

 

Thanks for the reply. Did take the starter off but didn't mess with it. Had a buddy who is a mechanic come over to double check my rocker adjustment. When it does fire up, it sounds great. But that nasty kachunk noise I know is internal because you can feel it throughout the whole car when it does it. It literally shakes the car and sounds horrible. Almost like something is breaking...

 

your shure there was no shim between the starter and block? its really difficult to help diagnose a noise without actually hearing/seeing. has your mechanic freind looked at it. seems loke he may be your best bet on this one.

 

Ok let's put it this way. It sounds and feels like part of the engine is starting up but then the rest isn't so it just stops. I can't emphasize how much it makes people cringe when they here me try and start it.

 

I'll double check it again tomorrow with my buddy, but I'm almost positive it's set up right. If I had a recorder I'd post the sound here but I dont have one. I just don't want to mess something up internally... I've had enough fun replacing the head gaskets...

 

Ok, I double checked the starter and everything is set up fine. Went to go to work this morning and it wouldn't fire up. Tried about 20 to 30 times and didn't get anything but the same old same old.

Go to start it up about 7 hours later and it fires up first turn. I thought maybe it was because the temps are sub zero but even when it gets up to operating temp and I shut it off then try to start it again it still makes the nasty kachunk noise. What gives? I've put more $ into this car then what I paid for it. Any help is much appreciated

 

i say cracked flexplate or broken teeth on your flex or flywheel

 

Nice call. I figured it might be in the back of my head but didn't want to believe it. One tooth is missing from the flywheel.

 

it sounds like a cracked flexplate to me, stress cracks caused symptoms your describing on one of the cars i worked on, replaced it and everything is good again. check that and see