OK, so I probably started on the car too late today, but it's my first day of vacation. So this afternoon I got myself all prepped to apply power to the starter to see if she turned, then check compression, then check oil pressure.
Yeah, didn't even get past step one. I applied power from both a battery charger/starter and a 6 volt car battery (once I charged it up) and got nothing but sparks. Checked continuity and confirmed my fears: it's grounding inside the case. I've had this happen before with old and rusty starters. Pulled it apart and blew it out once, reassembled and installed. Same thing. Took it apart again and realized that it's probably just too much metal dust/rust all over everything inside it that's grounding it out. So I'll take it in to the rebuilder on Monday to see if it's cheaper to rebuild than buy a brand new one with a new-fangled Bendix.
It's frustrating that I can't start it this weekend, but I've got other things to keep me occupied. Plus, it might save me a trip, since I have my friend looking for a short-cased generator I can have the shop rebuild for 12 volts. But what I'd hoped to do this weekend isn't going to happen, unless my uncle has a starter I can borrow just to spin the motor.
**Update: After I posted this, I Googled around for flathead starters and learned to my pleasantly dumbstruck surprise that apparently I already have a 12 volt starter, as determined by the longer case/shorter mounting plate. Hooray!**
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