RussC

I know the solenoid clicks and it clicks rapidly if it's not getting enough power, but my starter is clicking while it's turning over.

I know it's something with this starter cause it only started doing this when I swoped the old one for this lt1 one. It also seems to turn over really slow compared to the old one.

jo88gta

I swapped my stock with a lt1 starter as well, it took a lot of shimming to get i correct. Did you get new bolts with the starter? The correct bolts are VERY important to get it lined up correctly.

RussC

well that could be the problem, i didn't get any bolts with it at all. i'll have a close look at it this week and see how far off it is.

how much different are the right bolts compared to the ones for the stock starter?

jo88gta

It would be a big difference from the stock bolts, did they tighten normally? They also have to be "starter" bolts - normally threaded bolts will not work in my experience. This actually mad a BIG difference and I finally went to the dealer (the universal ones found at local auto parts store failed) and got the bolts from I believe it was a 95 Z28. I wrestled with this for hours with no success - new bolts and minimal shimming and the car never started smoother. Plus there is finally clearance from headers and heat.

RussC

it looks like it's something in the starter. i took it off and tried it on the bench and it keeps engaging and disengaging rapidly. i got my old man to have a look at it, since he has been working on cars for almost 50 years and this is the first time he has seen a starter act like this. i'm going to drop it off to a guy that works on starters and alternators and see what he says.

RussC

it turned out to be a solenoid problem. not sure if the previous owner changed it or not but it was a Chinese pos.

anyway all fixed up now, and it's a great little starter.