94 4.3 TBI Z Motor Cranking Issue

[duff49]

Having a cranking problem . When cold it cranks and starts but sounds like it's struggling.
When hot I just get a grunt and it won't crank. I've had two starters in it. Current one
is just a few months old and is the top of Autozone brand.

All battery connections are clean. The battery is old but this has been going on for
almost a year. Plus when I jump it on another vehicle I get the same results.

I've read on a board that the cables lose the ability to carry the load. This has a long
positive cable in an Astro - 78 inches, but I've never heard of cables wearing out.
Can somebody explain if they had the long cable issue ?

Also - I did the intake gaskets last summer. This is a Z motor. I read a simalar topic below
about later model motors distribs being a tooth off. Does this apply to the Z ?
And - how do I verify if I'm a tooth off ?
Since a Z distrib is ajustable I'm thinking it doesn't apply.

Really frustrating !

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=36554&hilit=starter+cranking&start=30

Thanks
Duff