[UncleBob]

simple, small block chevy, turbo 350 tranny. Common as can be, cheap as can be, billions of supe up options.

Not terribly original of course.

But....if tapping on the starter got a "whir" out of it. You very well might have corroded contacts in the starter. I know you probably don't want to throw more money at a dead engine, but it could be that simple....

Carb probably needs to be gone through, btw.....assuming you get it to turn over.