1996 Chevy 5.7 vortec stutters when cranking and starter smells burnt

Have a 1996 Chevy 5.7 vortec that I just barely finished an engine swap on. Got a brand new starter, battery, new negative battery cable and end that goes to the block, new ends on the starter wires, and it cranks but stutters while cranking and all the lights surge over and over during cranking. And after I get out of the truck the starter smells burnt. This already happened with the first starter and had to warranty it for this one. Need help immediately with this. Bad ground? Bad wiring to the starter? Has a 1000 CA battery, with 800 CCA, could it be pulling too much power? Please help.