New 12a rebuild starting issue and tick?
 

When cranking with the starter i can hear a tick sound but when rolling over with a wrench on the main pulley there's nothing so I'm thinking it's a funky tooth on the starter or flywheel? And both header pipes have the same temp of heat from it popping and wanting to start but never fully gets there. Is this common for an engine filled with Vaseline and who knows how much hylomar that's crept into the chambers after torqueing the bolts? Any thought or suggestions on starting and or timing? By my guess I'm about 10 degrees advanced on leading.

And for those wanting to know plug status..... leading plugs on the left and trailing are on the right. Takings seem pretty wet compared to the leading.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...cede29daad.jpg

only "ticking" that readily comes to mind right now that you might hear at starter speeds, but not by hand is if the exhaust is off or not tightened or leaking very bad somewhere close to the engine.

if you're not sure about the timing, and you don't have a light, then it costs you nothing but time to zero the engine out and reset it. something i do when starting a new engine is i may adjust the timing as i try to crank it.

i don' know if i would consider being stubborn to start as usual, but i wouldn't say it's unusual either.

Any chance the starter-based 'ticking' is the sound of the plugs firing?

Stu A
80GS
AZ

I have a short video of it but what's the best way to get it on here? It says too large to upload thru normal means.

Copy the YT videos Link on your browser, paste it here...

Stu A
80GS
AZ

ok gonna do that..... I got it to fire and run today! Bad news I had it run for about 4 minutes but had to shut it off since it wouldn't idle on its own to move stuff and had something else that caused me to wait another hour to try again.... now almost starts again but won't go all the way.... uuuggghhhh!

messed with the timing a bit and got it to fire a second time! Didn't have my phone on me so missed it but it took some coaxing again and and after running it would bounce from choke idle at about 1600 back down to almost 700 before I had to give a small kick of gas to keep from stalling. I have a small coolant leak leak that needs fixed at the temp bung(no problem) and a small and slow oil leak at the omp block off plate i fitted.... not sure why but I think the aluminum housing threads were already weak so I'm gonna try getting longer bolts that clear the other end of the threads that are visible and put some nuts on the end....... but this engine starting is exactly how my bridge port would act when it was warmed up already and trying to restart..... except this is happening when cold.....??

What is the switch you flip, on the lower left dash?

I have my fuel pump hooked to a switch. 😆

Finally a clip of it running.... holley carbs gonna need some adjusting after going to a streetport.