okay guys... this is a weird one.. i took my head off to get it worked on again and when i put it back on and i crank it... the starter just spins.. i have 2 starters and they both do that... could both of them be faulty? lemme know what you guys think.... cuz they both worked before perfectly.. the flywheel is still there... the starter spins but the car doesn't crank.... wassup? thanks guys

 

make sure your plugs are in the prper fireing order on the dist cap. only thing i can think of now. has nothing to do w/ head.

 

i know it's got nothing to do with the head..hmm.. you think the starter is bad.. cuz it's for sure the starter spinning but it's just not grabbing.. like there is no flywheel to grab.. plugs are in the right firing order.. if they weren't the car would still crank either way... it doesn't crank

 

Are you sure the starter is in there and connected up right (ie. gears all lined up)? I've seen a few starters go bad and they will just spin since a gear is stripped or something like that. I just got out and hit it with a large metal object and it engaged the starter gears and off I went! Check the gear on the end of the starter and make sure it lines up with the crank gear okay

 

just hit it with a large metal object.. haha.. well umm... the gears in the starter? any pointers before i go out and do this..? i'll check it out in a bit... thanks

 

See if this helps at all :
http://autorepair.about.com/library/...engine+starter

I'm serious though, you can hit it which may help to engage the gears. It actually worked! (once)

 

i have seen quite a few cars not turn over at all b/c of incorrect firing order

 

I dont think that should play a role. Firing order should have nothing to do with the starter not turning over. It's not spinning the flywheel. striped ? tear off the starter how do it look ?

 

i would suggest to take the spare starter and go to your local auto parts store and have it tested. The gear on the starter should shoot out as soon as power is apply to the starter, then it should go back after your car start. you can test it if you want. get a jumper cable, clamp the ground to the body of the starter, positive to the main pos(+)pole where you put a nut and then grab a wire or a hanger to jump to + to the male 1/4 connector. hope this help

 

If it is trying to turn over and never quite catches, make sure the timing is correct.
Top Dead Center is very important, had a situation just like that 4 days ago.
Check the marking on the crank pulley and check positioning of the cam gears.

Also, make sure there is spark comming from the plugs.