[81scottsdale400]

i have a 1979 GMC high sierra with a sb 350 that was a running and driving motor outta my donor truck (80 gmc) i swapped it outta the 80 into the 79 and now i have battery power to everything but when i tunr the key nothing happens not even a crank or even try to crank over not entirely sure what could be wrong any suggestions to where i should start to look and double check to makes sure all the wiring is hooked up all help will be appreciated thanks

[Dajerseyrat]

Originally Posted by 81scottsdale400

i have a 1979 GMC high sierra with a sb 350 that was a running and driving motor outta my donor truck (80 gmc) i swapped it outta the 80 into the 79 and now i have battery power to everything but when i tunr the key nothing happens not even a crank or even try to crank over not entirely sure what could be wrong any suggestions to where i should start to look and double check to makes sure all the wiring is hooked up all help will be appreciated thanks

Sounds like the starter or starter relay might not be getting power, or ground.

[81scottsdale400]

where would the ground be and what would cause the starter not to get power

[Dajerseyrat]

Originally Posted by 81scottsdale400

where would the ground be and what would cause the starter not to get power

Please dont take offense,but if your asking that, you really should not be doing motor swaps.

Get a test light and see if your getting power to the starter when you turn the key, but keep your hands away from the flywheel....

[mafiacustomz]

easy way to find the ground look were the starter is and see if their are some wires hanging around that go to nothing and them might be your ground wires you should have labed all the wires if its your first swap

[81scottsdale400]

well no offesnse taken but every motor swap ive done i replaced motor with another motor but i bought my truck without a motor in it and it orrginally had a 454 in it so im having to kinda go off of my friends 83 chevy so im just double checking if it could be something that was different in the wiring between a big block and a small block and i also replaced the steering collumn in it with one outta an 86 chevy where the windshield wiper switch was built into the turn signal instead of the dash would anything in the collumn cause a problem

[81scottsdale400]

mafiacustomz]easy way to find the ground look were the starter is and see if their are some wires hanging around that go to nothing and them might be your ground wires you should have labed all the wires if its your first swap


its not my first swap ive done quite alot

[mafiacustomz]

you shouldnt be having a problem its all power and ground if you have juice to the starter and a ground it should crank but if you switched the column did you check and make sure that the wiring matched and if the wiring is all the way hooked up and cliped in

[Dajerseyrat]

Originally Posted by mafiacustomz

you shouldnt be having a problem its all power and ground if you have juice to the starter and a ground it should crank but if you switched the column did you check and make sure that the wiring matched and if the wiring is all the way hooked up and cliped in

+1 on that...I like to start at the problem and trace backwards. If the starter is not clicking check the obvious first,for battery power at the starter, then see if you have ignition power at the starter, and keep following the problem up backwards.

By your description it is something as simple as the starter not even cranking, since its doing nothing, not even clicking. Could also be a bad starter solenoid, thats why you should start at the starter and work your way back.

If you see any thick black wires hanging around, that could be your ground for the starter, the starter need 3 wires 12V constant, 12V switched and ground.

[sqzbox]

Originally Posted by 81scottsdale400

i have a 1979 GMC high sierra with a sb 350 that was a running and driving motor outta my donor truck (80 gmc) i swapped it outta the 80 into the 79 and now i have battery power to everything but when i tunr the key nothing happens not even a crank or even try to crank over not entirely sure what could be wrong any suggestions to where i should start to look and double check to makes sure all the wiring is hooked up all help will be appreciated thanks

Seen this happen before. If you used the starter and solenoid from the 80 switch back to the 79 starter and solenoid. Don't ask me why but my buddy's starter went out and I brought one like new to work for him and the same thing happened. Had to switch the solenoid off his 79 onto the 76 starter and all was good. You have nothing to loose by trying.

[joe_padavano]

Is the ground cable from the battery negative terminal to the block connected? Will the starter turn if you jump the terminals on the solenoid? Did a wire accidentally get disconnected in the harness during the swap?

It's back-to-basics time.

[T-bucket23]

You need to start at teh beginning. Have someone turn the key and see if the s terminal on the starter gets power. You can check this with a test light. If it does then either the starter is no good or you have a missing ground. If it doesnt get power you have an issue with the feed to the ignition switch, bad ignition switch, bad neutral safety switch etc

[81scottsdale400]

well for all u guys here we go yes the wires all matched up on the collumn all the dash lights and everything work when i turn the key on and 2 from tracing out all the wires i havnt found no wires just hanging loosly and yes the negative battery cable is connected to the block its in the same location as it was on my 80 (on alternator bracket never removed it) as for testing things wiht a test light havent tried yet gotta buy a new test light will do that and post back results

[mafiacustomz]

take your started off and hook it up to some jumper cables see if it kicks if so its not your starter check all your power cables to the starter check the ground wires to the starter and thin make sure the rods on the column are in their spots and thin make sure their is juice in the battery to turn the motor

[81scottsdale400]

thanks mafia for all the help ill surely let u know what happens