Well now that I figured out it was the battery being dead that made the horrendous click when I went to start the engine, I replaced the battery with one I had laying around and now it just sounds like something is spinning but not doing anything. Kinda like a dry chug chug chug. I don't know what to do about it, does anyone have advice?

 

What are you trying to start? Old engnine, new build, need a little more info.

 

Sorry, um original Flathead V-8.

 

squirt some oil down the cylinders and crank it with the plugs out ,then put the plugs in and try to start it,it will help bring the compression back up if its been sitting for a long time . and dont forget to check for spark while cranking....

 

Fast few is right, but if it's an older engine, make sure you have changed the oil first (in case any water has settled into the pan - it's the first thing sucked up and doesn't agree with an engine that has been sitting), and when you crank it with the plugs out, do it for about 15 to 20 seconds to get oil up into the engine.

Stupid question to ask at this point but does the engine turn at all by hand (not frozen up)?

J!

 

If the "new" battery is old, it may not have enough current to throw the Bendix out or turn the motor. You can use a 12v battery to jump start it, just keep (-) to (-) etc and don't let bumpers touch (best to pull a good battery out of another vehicle completely). Sooner or later you're going to want a new battery, why not just go ahead and buy one?