First start up woes...

[sleepercoupe]

Ok, today I fired up the coupe for the first time. For reference sake it's a 351W, T-5, FMS Billet Fly, Valeo stock clutch(new), new clutch cable, starter that I think or thought was good, 8.8. I started it up, oil pressure came up, started to break in the cam by varying RPM's. Shut it off because my dad saw sparks. I turned key off and let clutch out at 5000rpm(it was in neutral). Went to start up again and horrible noise coming from starter area....loud squeal....any ideas? maybe locked up the starter???

Blake

[sleepercoupe]

By the way it doesnt sound like its hitting the flywheel...

[85Coupe50]

Get under the car and look at the teeth on the flywheel. Also check the starter bolts and make sure they are tight and that the starter is in straight.

Good luck!

[sleepercoupe]

checked the bolts they were in tight. going to check all my wiring. because i completly rewired the whole starting system. if that doesnt fix it then i will pull the starter and check the fly. wouldnt the starter lock or break before it grinded up a billet flywheel? or would the teeth still get chewed up?

[85Coupe50]

The billet is more for not releasing its energy in the way of shattering at high RPS. The teeth can still get chewed up.

Is the starter new?

Can the engine be turned over by hand with a rachet on the crank?

I'm still not sure about the whole 5000 RPM clutch release. Why would you have a fresh motor at 5K anyway. Not a normal break in RPM range if I remember correctly.

Matt

[sleepercoupe]

The billet is more for not releasing its energy in the way of shattering at high RPS. The teeth can still get chewed up.

Is the starter new?

Can the engine be turned over by hand with a rachet on the crank?

I'm still not sure about the whole 5000 RPM clutch release. Why would you have a fresh motor at 5K anyway. Not a normal break in RPM range if I remember correctly.

Matt

starter is not new-makes me think it might have been on its way out
5000, it was probably more like 3500, open long tubes were insane loud
it can be turned over by hand with rachet

i see what your saying about the flywheel that makes sense. im going to yank the header and starter off today, to see whats up down there.

[Matt K]

Did you put a pilot bushing into the crankshaft? Most 351's were originally in front of autos & with a stick it must have the correct size pilot bushing (or bearing) for the front of the transmission's input shaft to fit into. If it came out of an automatic car originally it may not have anything at all & the input shaft may be hitting the crank!

[sleepercoupe]

dont worry everyone i got it under control! i pulled the starter and had them bench test it, it sounded like a machine gun. replaced it fired it up broke it in and drove it around the block. whooaaaa whooooo it sounds so good.