Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

To check, use one half of a set of jumper cables. Clip one to battery negative, other to starter housing bolt. Might want to have the positive disconnected when you do this.
Be careful, or you get the free home arc welding course.

A test light clipped on the neg battery post with the probe on the starter body will light when the starter is powered if the ground is bad.

Did you paint the metal where the starter bolts to the bellhousing, or the starter itself, that will make a very nice insulator from engine ground. Also where the ground cable hooks up to the engine block.Internal tooth star washers work nice to cut through the paint.

Try some jumper cables from the negative post of the battery to the motor. That will tell you pretty quickly if it is a ground problem. Usually if there is a ground problem then the starter grounds through the throttle cable and welds the cable to the inside of it's shroud.

You say that everything seems to be low on power. It sounds to me like you are not getting a good battery ground to the frame of the car or you are not getting a good positive from the battery to the starter. You should check your cables. Check that both ends of the cables are in good condition and not corroded. Check that both ends of your cables are securely fastened. This goes for both the positive and negative cable. Check that the new battery has some juice in it. It could be a dead battery causing your problems.

Later,

Apparently Andy and I were typing at the same time.

What Andy said about making sure the battery is charged makes the most sense, A volt meter across the battery will not drop if there is no connection, such as a bad ammeter, and will drop ALOT if there is a dead battery.

I fought for 2 days trying to figure out why I couldn't get my car fired up after I put the engine and tranny back in and added a gear reduction starter. I swear I didn't have it connected that way on the old one, but as soon as I connected the ground strap to the bolt in the bell housing it was very happy. The way I had it connected first, was arcing the battery straight through to the frame when I turned the key over BAD BAD. Lucky nothing fried, that i've found yet sparks and smoke coming off the ground bolt should have been my first clue.

Good luck
Eddie
http:ed.sawyer.home.comcast.net

I hooked up a ground from the starter bolt into the bellhousing (on the starter side) and connected that to the frame. Still no love.

The earlier pic was from the motor I pulled. I cleaned all the connectors before dropping in the new motor. Battery is a new Optima.

I've never seen this car running, but the motor ran on a stand before I installed it, so I figure the starter is good.

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll keep working through this step-by-step.

I have a remote starter, I may try that to see if the switch is bad.

Leigh, I'm not sure if you have a multi-test meter or not, First I would check the battery in another vehicle or get it checked at a Les Schawb Tire store, even thought it's new it could still be bad.
With battery installed and fully charged, check the connectors at the fire wall then look under the dash to inspect the plug for the ignition switch and see if it needs cleaned, plus while your there you can check to see if your getting voltage to that point, if so then I would check the black and yellow wire at the plug, it should be the back to the starter /solenoid wire, then turn key and see if voltage is getting thru the ignition switch to engage the starter. If so check it at all connectors going back to the solenoid connector that goes on the solenoid spade.
I have never experienced a nonworking amp gauge but from what I hear from others it will effect things too.
Has the previous owner removed a stereo to where a wire maybe cut? Good luck and keep us updated.. Zippy needs life .. Bill

So I went and got a good multimeter today. Got home and decided to try the remote starter first. While trying to hook up the leads I noticed a loose wire.

DOH!

Hooked up the small starter wire and hooked up the Optima. Turned over very strong!

I still have to change the oil and sort out the fuel system, but it looks like Zippy might be running this weekend!

Leigh, Glad to hear you got it figured out, The tester will still come in handy...alright .... Zippy's alive... Bill

Zippy lives!

Got it fired up tonight. Good oil pressure, no death rattle. Gas is pouring from the overflow on the front carb, so I didn't run it long.

But it runs!

I'm also having a starting problem. When I turn the ignition key to the right, sometimes nothing happens at all. As if there is no contact. Other times, no problem. It seems to be an intermitent problem. Anyone have a theory?

You could do what I should have done - check the simple things first.

Clean all connections and make sure your grounds are good.

Intermittant problems might be from a damaged wire.

Good luck!

My first one did that, had to reach behind the ign switch and twist the connector the opposite way the key was turned and then turn key to start. Never bothered to fix, probably just dirty contacts.