1987 Chevrolet V30 dump truck 350 v8 no crank no start

[mike kotarba]

1987 Chevrolet V30 dump truck 350 v8 carburetor with sm465 transmission. It has a no crank no start in the rusty crusty truck. This originally had a 454 big block engine which made real bad noises when running at idle. I am helping my neighbor with his project vehicle. Prior to us swapping out the big block engine I had to jump the starter with a remote starter switch at the starter terminals to make it crank while holding the ignition switch on and depressing the clutch pedal. I swapped in a 1985 chevrolet k20 used 350 v8 with carburetor out of a donor truck that had a th400 automatic. I removed the crank shaft bushing and put in a pilot bearing for the sm465 transmission that is still in the dump truck. I put in a LUK clutch and flywheel during the engine swap. After the engine swap I still have to use the remote starter switch at the starter to make it crank but not start the engine. I am not getting spark at the end of the plug wires with a acdelco HEI spark tester at the same time.

I am having difficulty figuring out why the donor engine will not crank at all with the key. I do have head lights and interior lights and stop lamps. I replaced the column mounted ignition switch to no avail. I disconnected the clutch switch and used a fused jumper at the connector that made no difference in it cranking at all.
Is there any problem areas I should inspect on a square body truck?

 

[CountKrunk]

so you can't get it started with a remote switch or with the key?

But you can crank it with the remote switch but you get absolutely nothing using the key?

 

[mike kotarba]

I can make it crank with the remote starter but nothing with the key.

 

[mike kotarba]

I readjusted ignition switch and dimmer switch with s 3/32 drill bit and now i have a crank no start with ignition key

 

[CountKrunk]

No way @Rusty Nail doesn't have a hot take for you here

 

[mike kotarba]

Once I got the truck engine to crank I tested the distributor coil which was bad according to service information. I replaced the ignition coil and still had a crank no start. I tested the HEI module and it was supposed to have battery voltage at B+ at the battery terminal of the coil. The HEI module Tested at 8.5 volts max which is bad also the range of bad is 1 to 10 volts. I replaced the HEI module and now it runs well.
Thank you for the help.

 

[Rusty Nail]

It's the purple wire..it's almost always the purple wire!
"Any problem areas?"

It's not a problem but people are always jackin with it. .. they wire STARTER KILL SWITCHES in the purple wire.

That's always one of the first circuits to inspect. You might find a homemade starter disable if you look hard enough??

That will occupy your time for a bit - I'll check back later. Good luck!

P.s. add pix.

 

[OGill]

Have you checked all the fuses, including on the firewall.
I also know of a case where one of the wires on the engine side of the fuse block was pulled loose .
Best luck.