So I bought this 86 camaro with a 350 sb carburated already swapped for $500. when I bought the car, i was impressed at how it idled, and though it needs serious body work, i figured if I just couldn't deal anymore i would just drop the engine in my '69 while i rebuilt its engine. anyway, the problem at hand. i got the car here(had to be towed because there was no brake pressure) and started it up. still ran like a champ, so i left it alone. the next day i came out and cleaned up the hatch area as it had most interior panels sitting in it, i went to start the car but it wouldnt go. checked the gas and sure enough its dead empty. got a gas can and gave her a few drops of fuel, and tryed to start it. engine wouldnt turn over. it was tryin, but the engine wasnt actually runnin itself after the starter cranked it. volt light was low so i went into a long search to jump it. after many different methods(jump pck, jump cables, two bateries etc...) i decided it must be the batterie, so i went to autozone and to cover my but got the gold top so i could hav a few extra amps to play with. the car started and ran for the next day or so, and i got the brakes working again(or at least the front pass.) and was feelin pretty good. but then local pd couldnt leave my car alone because it had an old(07) inspection sticker. ok, so ill just move the car. i live in a decent size apt complex, and there is a ton of houses nearby. find a couple of far spaced houses or a dead end and park it for a day or so til i get the car down to a shop for insp(which it wont pass, but thats besides the point). unfortunatly, the car wont start again.... i think it may be the starter, but the guy that sold it to me just replaced it, and i know this because he left the dud an one that wont fit on the back seat. is the starter bad cuz he got a used one? or does the 350 need a more powerful starter? I really need to get this car on the road cuz im drivin an 86 skylark right now and its killin me...... any help would be appreciated, and sorry for my long windedness.

 

Check the cables and terminals,could just be corrosion or even a loose cable at the starter end.
Does it crank at all when it won't start or just click?
Just clicking maybe a bad solenoid,cranking slow maybe a bad starter.
A 350 shouldn't need a special high torque starter or anything like that,most Chevy starters big or small block are the same.
It may just be a weak used starter or even a bad rebuilt one which is pretty common.

 

cables seem to be in good working order, they were something i checked before i replaced the batt. the starter is making the engine turn, no clicking, but the engine itself isnt starting. i think im with you on the weak starter. i have a feeling this guy got it from a junk yard and lucked out for the first 30 or so starts.

 

just for the heck of it, check how the starter itself is wired. Just to double check to make sure it isn't jsut thrown together to make it work.

 

just checked the starter, and the wiring was done right down to the dust boots and all

 

the starter was weak, got a new one and it starts and runs like a champ! thanks all!