can't start the car
 

hey all, I just bought me an 84 camaro with a small block 350 It was towed to my house but it was running early that day I tried to start it earlier that day but the battery was low and it did a little crank but it stopped so i didn't start until it got towed to my house. but anyways I tried to start it and it sounded loud metal scraping in metal and it won't start. I sounds like something is rubbing on something but pretty loud. could it be my trany or does a starter make that noise if itis loose or somthing and it just won't start.

RE: can't start the car
 

Sounds like GM starter sickness. It probably needs some shims added or taken away but there could be other problems like worn flexplate teeth or even a crack on the starter pad. I would play with it a bit but you might need a mechanic to look at it

RE: can't start the car
 

I agree. The prevoius owner could have put a starter in there and did not shim it. rebuilder usualy machine the nose cones of the starter to make them flat and that takes metal off and puts the pinion gear closer to the flex plates ring gear and when turned over will make a terible screech. Sometimes the rebuilders dont even machine the nose cones straght and shims may just have to go under one bolt on occasion.

RE: can't start the car
 

Is the battery still low? A low battery won't have enough power to crank the engine and the starter will make a clickety-clackety-clang noise.