Hey Guys,

I have this problem where after the car (72 Malibu 350) has been running a while (not too long, not overheating long, but warming up pretty good long-say 10-15mins) The car does this dragging start as if the battery doesn't have the power to turn the car over. It does that for a couple seconds then it seems to turn over relativly ok and start.

I assume this to be the battery, but it's new and never left connected long enough to drain and reading full charge, so my next thing was the starter. After replacing it, same deal, alternator replaced same deal, heat sheild on starter same deal.

If the engine is cold, a couple pumps on the pedal before turning it over and it starts like a champ, and maintains idle.

The engine was recently rebuilt (not by me-I'm a moron) and has been doing this ever since that. My buddy who rebuilt the engine for me is stumped too. It always started well for him, cold.

Is it possible that with all the amped up goodies stuffed into the new motor that the starter is too weak to turn over the engine? If so, what starter can I use?

I can only think that it might be a combination of all of the above, like I said before...I'm a moron. Someone help me.

You can't imagine how it feels to cruise over to the local cruise night with my sweet Malibu and having it start back up like a sick mule. I'll tell ya, it's bad.

Thanks guys,
Gord

It could be a timing issue. Have you checked the timing. It could also be heat soak from the exhaust heating up the solenoid.

Agree with gatkins. The new engine will be tight for a while. Back off the initial timing a little and see what effect that has.

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Steve Strasemeier (70SS 396, Fathom Blue/White Stripes)
My 70SS (http://www.members.home.com/txss/sshome.htm)

OMG! I think that must be it. The guy who rebuilt it for me set the timing by ear. He said because of the cam that you don't set it to factory specs (I don't know if he was just messing with me or what). I will have to take a look at the timing then, it would also explain that I get a bit of hessitation when I tromp on her. It's like it huffs for a split second before it responds.


Any easy way to configure the timing, I don't have an ear for what it should be (if that's a real way of doing it)

Thanks guys,
Gord