i got my 383 all ready to fire up but my starter hardly turns over the engine. i know it has high compression so do i need a high torque starter or do i just have a crap stock one? i took it to autozone to have them test it and they said it was fine. the starter was out of a old blazer with a 350.

 

Couple thing contribute to it. High compression, and a tight, fresh engine. The starter might work once the engine is broken in, but it might not make it to get there. I'd swap it out for a new high torque starter and never look back.
I went through starters about every 12-24 months on my 427 until I got the baddest starter I could find. That's been in there for over 25 years now with no problems. Well worth the $160 I paid back in the 80's.

 

i have jumped a fresh changed battery with a charger boost to get a new motor to turn fast enough to start. what compression you have?

 

Too much advance timing will cause hard starting too. I agree its probably tight. If you absolutely need a high torque starter. I got mine on ebay for about 60 bucks. Works fine on my 10.5:1 383.

 

Amazing how those starters have come down in price with the advent of Ebay and internet sales!

 

In the meantime you could hook your coil up to an inline kill switch. Turn the switch off, get the engine zinging over with the key, then liven the coil with the switch.
Your starter is fighting the cylinders wanting to fire, not the compression.

 

I think they're just knock offs of the late 90's GM mini starter. Sure of it really. I don't know what trucks the starters came stock in otherwise I would have suggested a trip to the store for one.

Camaro 69 has a good idea with the kill switch.

 

thanks guys. the engine is sitting on an engine stand. i wanna get it started b4 i put it in the car. with my coil connected to the battery i jump the starter. the battery is plenty big enough and has good connection. the starter doesnt seem to turn the engine over very fast even with all the plugs out.

 

Well then its not a compression issue. No compression with the plugs out. Starter sounds weak or worse your bearings may be too tight. Were the bearing clearances checked at all?

Did you check the crank when you assembled the engine. I spin the crank after torqing each main. Then after every rod I spin it. That way if it get tight I know where to look.

 

i had to get a 400 sbc starter from a 74 chevy pickup,i had the same problem when i built my 436,a 350 just cant handle the extra rotating mass and make sure u have a really good ground or u can fry ur starter,now i have an asr high torque starter,but that 400 starter should cure ur problem.im only using the high torque starter because i had fitment isues when had engine in my 87 irocz the headers sat against my starter the mini starter helped greatly.