If I'm not mistaken the starter is grounded to the block so that should be alright. Could the pos + neg wires be reversed on the battery? Does everything else (electrical) work like the radio, guages? Power windows?
Is the engine rotating in the correct direction (clockwise from the front of the car)?
Only other thing I can think of is you are over tightening the rockers but it sounds like you've checked that.
Verify the + side of the battery with a voltmeter and trace it through the solenoid to the starter (among other things). Make sure it goes from battery to solenoid, solenoid to starter. Also make sure the - side of battery is connected to the block somewhere. Maybe something got switched and you're actually applying +12 to the block and ground to the starter.
The motor should spin fast because (I think) you don't have any of the plugs in. Without a spark plug or a comp tester there's nothing to maintain compression.
Post some pictures of the wiring and starter if you have or can get a digital camera.
Good luck,
Rich D.
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