I am just wondering if pressure is supposed to build up in the cooling system from just an attemted starting. Thanks in advance. 88 non turbo.

 

Are you just cranking it not fully starting it?

 

One start attempt? No. If it has been running a bit, then yes... But even then it won't be immediate.

 

Assuming the cooling system is cold and there's no pressure/vacuum before starting...no.
If a coolant seal has catastrophically failed in an area of the housing/iron associated with compression, then that pressure can be transferred to the cooling system when starting the car...and certainly after it's been running.
Typically I think, there will be some warning signs before that happens...stumbling idle on cold start-up, spiking temps and other things associated with a coolant seal failure.


....It's also helpful if you use some key terms in the thread title that might help someone else during a later search.