My son and I just dropped in a 396 in our 70 chevelle and we can't seem to get the starter to work. We have replaced the automatic trans with a muncie, the old engine wiring harness with a complete new harness and have a good (new) battery. The large purple wire to the S terminal, the smaller yellow wire to the R terminal and the positive lead from the battery to the larger positive post on the starter (starter was new last time we ran the car with the same motor, stock type starter). We tried the old harness with no luck and have tried with the battery charger attached in the "start mode". We checked the neutral safe switch (still on the column) and it appears to be in the correct position (we connected the two leads manually with no change). Placing a screwdriver across the positive terminal and the S terminal did not make a difference except some exciting arc welding with my screw driver at the header.

We are new to car building and would accept ny comments.

Does it do anything at all - make any sound?

Sparking of the screwdriver is normal IF it touches something other than the "S" terminal.

No sound, or clicking.

If there is no sound and there is 12 volts going to the "S" terminal with a good ground to the engine, sounds like you need to pull the starter and check it.

Does this 396 engine have a coil or an HEI? If HEI, is there a constant 12V source going to the HEI module?

If there is no sound and there is 12 volts going to the "S" terminal with a good ground to the engine, sounds like you need to pull the starter and check it.
Yep, probably the solonoid

Thanks for the suggestions............We'll check the starter this weekend.
Distributor is HEI.