305 not turning over

okay, i put a brand new gear drive, intake, chrome dress up kit, water pump, alternator, fuel pump, oil pump and starter on this engine i pulled out of an 84' monte carlo w/a 305. I got a brand new starter and when i give the starter power, the enigne turns over just fine without the spark plugs in. But with the spark plugs in, it'll start to turn about a fifth of the way (on the flywheel) and then stop . its got a brand new starter and battery that i was using so i dunno why it wont turn over all the way like it does when the spark plugs are out of it. hmmmm ? Maybe i dont have a good enough ground on the engine because its really not grounded by more than that negative clamp on the starter. Any ideas people ? or do yall think that its because the engine isnt grounded very well ?

please help,
all the best,
Marcus R.

the lack of grounding may very well be giving you that condition, if you cant get the power out, then you wont get the power through the starter. something else that may be a problem is the sparkplugs, when you pull them out does it look like they have been hitting the piston? if you put in spark plugs that are too long there is a chance that could be happening. but if the plugs show no signs of contact, then id say you just dont have the engine adiquately grounded.

the lack of grounding may very well be giving you that condition, if you cant get the power out, then you wont get the power through the starter. something else that may be a problem is the sparkplugs, when you pull them out does it look like they have been hitting the piston? if you put in spark plugs that are too long there is a chance that could be happening. but if the plugs show no signs of contact, then id say you just dont have the engine adiquately grounded.


I figured it our. I was usin a valuecraft battery with 525 CCA. So i used my truk battery for the engine and it turned the engine over with absolutely no problem. and my truck battery probably has about 800 CCA. Oh, and the grounding did also help alot too. Thanks.

Marcus R.

ah ha, well done, didnt think about an underrated battery.

ah ha, well done, didnt think about an underrated battery.

yep. i guess its definately possible. I didnt think it could happen, but thats proof it can. thanx.