Does this sound familiar?

[jdirty]

http://youtu.be/vHrx1WwCFwQ

This is how my engine is after replacing the headgasket, timing cover gasket, upper and lower intake, valve cover and spark plug gasket, starter, upper and lower oil pan.
I made sure that my timing was correct. Locked at TDC, cam gears pointing up, 1st intake and exhaust lobes were facing inwards, crank and cam position sensors were clean.
I have full power in the cabin. I even tried blasting my music just to check the battery.
Everything was powered. I'm kind of at a loss here. or maybe my brain just stopped processing since its 3:30 PST and I have work at 10. oh well. any suggestions guys?
The starter was brand new remfd.
Car was running before my upper and lower oil pan got smashed.
Then I noticed that my headgasket was leaking so I changed it anyway.

ps m42club looks all fancy now. haven't been in here in awhile. lol

[deansweet]

that does not sound familiar to me on the two I have but it sure sounds like your start key is tapping and not seating?
Having never done this on a E30 but i have on other cars.
I would pull the starter and see if you can verify the head is jumping/spinning like it should be?
Usually mount to vice and ground and tap with 12v to check this.
have you tried turning the motor by manually using main crank bolt?

[jdirty]

I've tried manually turning the motor with the starter still there.
I will probably pull the starter tonight and see what happens.
Does it matter if it's TDC when i put the starter back in..?

[jdirty]

took out my 'new' starter hoping to figure something out by doing so.
Nothing unusual really.
I read somewhere that jumping the diagnostic port 11 & 14 will test the starter. With the starter out and the wires connected I hooked up power. a
All I hear is buzzing. I don't even know what to expect. maybe the gear to move?
So I tried doing the same with my old starter, I think I fried it when One of the contacts touched the brake reservoir's metal part/pipe.
Because I don't have any response from my old starter.
I'll take of the intake manifolds to see if I missed plugging anything. then probably test with the starters bolted on.
Does anybody have pictures of their starter's wiring?

[deansweet]

I've tried manually turning the motor with the starter still there.
I will probably pull the starter tonight and see what happens.
Does it matter if it's TDC when i put the starter back in..?

When you turn the motor manually, it spins? Take he plugs out as this will make it easier.
Starter doesnt care if you are at TDC on the motor. It just matters if the ring gear on the flywheel and pinion gear on starter match up.
Sometimes they do not and the head will 'stick' or be blocked which may cause the clicking noise you hear.

When you hook up 12v to starter, the head should shoot out and spin? Not hum.

[colin86325]

Did you forget to remove the flywheel locking device you used when installing the timing components? 

[jdirty]

When you hook up 12v to starter, the head should shoot out and spin? Not hum.

Is this a questions..? Or is this what's supposed to happen?
Your "?" threw me off. I'm assuming this is what's supposed to happen?
If so, i may have to open up the starter. I compared the spinning of the old vs new and the new isn't as loose or doesn't spin as freely as the old one's gear.

Did you forget to remove the flywheel locking device you used when installing the timing components? 

Haha No. I wish it was that simple.

[jdirty]

can anybody post up how their wiring is for their starter? I'm not quite sure with the colors of the wire as the PO shrink wrapped. I can only see 2 small gauge wires. one is black and green. the other smaller gauge wire is unknown. and the remaining larger gauges wire.

[jdirty]

So i eventually gave up on my no crank issue thinking it was a electrical related. Specially with the wiring given the PO's streak with doing half assed things with the car. I brought the car to the shop whom we're pretty good friends with. Sure enough it was electrical related and i was partially right. lol
The PO wired an aftermarket alarm with a killswitch buried deep in the harness, hardwired to the ignition. Also, the starter i've been trying to use apparently isn't functioning properly. They said it may have been mishandled/dropped during shipping when i got it from a member.

[jdirty]

so i put a new starter in and now the car cranks...but won't start. I'm guessing it's a timing issue this time around or a mouse living in engine.

http://youtu.be/DOs34p9PB_E

[jdirty]

i opened up the valve cover.. sure enough my timing was so whack. I Reset everything. Rotated the crank twice then locked the flywheel. Reset cams and cam gears. Bolted everything back up and the car started right up and all is great.. No. just just kidding. The car is idling weird now. Did a stomp test and i ended up with 1222. I remembered i had to replace my 02 sensor anyway so i gave it a shot. Spliced in a 2002 mustang 4 wire 02 Sensor (Bosch 15707) Idling kind of improved.. or maybe i'm just getting frustrated with this... Car won't idle 'normally'. It will stay at 700~800 rpms. but almost sounds like it's going to die. I cleaned my ICV. and still no change. i checked my plugs and they weren't drenched in fuel. Still trying to figure things out, i take the car for a drive around my street and it seems i get power past 1500 rpm but as soon as i let go and wait for it to idle.. it almost sounds like it's going to die. I remembered i haven't bled the cooling system yet.
Here's a video for anybody interested to hear it.

http://youtu.be/l3fnladzaYI

and yes that was me instructing my sister what to do.
I had to step on the exhaust so it won't hit the rear valence.
Haven't fixed the hangers yet. lol

lastly, i do have the small wire disconnected from the firewall.

[jdirty]

Tl;dr / Summary of what had happened.

Wanted to replace starter.
Ended up replacing headgasket.
Starter was put in. Car won't turn.
Found out PO had an aftermarket alarm that was cutting ignition. Took that out.
Put new starter in because first replacement was a bust.
Car won't start. Reset timing. Car runs like shit. Fault code 1222.
Replaced o2 sensor since I needed to anyway.
Found out I didn't tighten my throttle body. Fixed 1222.
Now dealing with m42 radiator bleeding.. ugh