[mrgto]

just installed a new starter/solinoid on my '68.

Reason, The tube that the wires run through to pass by the manifold sliped and the hot wire touched the manifold, melted and shorted everything out.

I have three wires going to the solinod.
The Hot wire from the battery.
The wire to the ignition.
and the hot wire going to the altenator.

What's the purpose of the hot wire going from the solinod to the altenator?

Why couldn't it go direct from the battery to the altenator?

I'd like to eliminate at least one of the wires going to the starter, if possible, and try to figure out a better route so that I will never have the problem of the wires touching the manifold again.

[mrgto]

just installed a new starter/solinoid on my '68.

Reason, The tube that the wires run through to pass by the manifold sliped and the hot wire touched the manifold, melted and shorted everything out.

I have three wires going to the solinod.
The Hot wire from the battery.
The wire to the ignition.
and the hot wire going to the altenator.

What's the purpose of the hot wire going from the solinod to the altenator?

Why couldn't it go direct from the battery to the altenator?

I'd like to eliminate at least one of the wires going to the starter, if possible, and try to figure out a better route so that I will never have the problem of the wires touching the manifold again.

[vidguy]

Im an electrical idiot and others here are more then able to explain that wiring issue for you....but.. having your wires run through the "ramair" style tube that sits on top of the motor mount rather then down between the exhaust manifolds/headers is a good idea. you will need a longer harness made for that. Or extend the wires yourself as they run down the front of the motor then back to the starter thru this tube then stright to the starter.. much better.,....
as to the wiring..like i said.. electriciy is like magic to me...

James Fasso
james@icvdm.com
'67 GTO Conv
"I told my parents I wanted to be a comedian
-But they just laughed at me"

[mrgto]

Hey Vid, cold you elaberate a little more on this "ramair" style tube?

[DanC]

mrgto, I think you miss traced a wire there.

You should have two small wires, one on the "I" terminal of the solenoid going to the coil to provide 12v while cranking; the other on the "S" term that is the control wire from the key 'Start' position of your ignition switch that actually engages the bendix and contacts the battery cable to the starter motor. The third of course is the battery cable.

DanC

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I'd rather be Historically Accurate than Politically Correct !

[mrgto]

Ok, this is the wiring config on my car.

Big red battery wire going to the Large center bolt on the solinoid.

One small wire, 10 gauge going from large bolt where the battery wire connects to the Altenator.

One Small 10 gauge wire going from ignition to small bolt on solinoid.

[george kujanski]

Wiring sounds right, firebirds use the xtra wire from the solenoid "r" terminal to the coil. GTO's run a wire from the ignition switch for that purpose.

George

[vidguy]

here's a pic looking back towards my drivers side motor mount. Its the tube sitting above that..thats where my wires go. Down the front of my car between the timing cover and the alternator and then back thru that to the starter...Wire Protector

James Fasso
james@icvdm.com
'67 GTO Conv
"I told my parents I wanted to be a comedian
-But they just laughed at me"

[DanC]

I was thinkin' of my config, '68 FB.

Perhaps your GTO has only the (4ga) Battery cable on the battery '+' post (no 10ga wire attached), as my '71 TA did. The TA had the same tube as the FB but the tube was at the back of the LH (driver side) head on both and the only wire going low and forward along the oil pan was the battery cable.

So now that 10ga wire coming off the large stud at the starter with the Batt cable is your main power feed!

But somehow you have to have a control wire going to solenoid to activate the starter, so you should have four wires! 'S', 'I', the 10ga, and the 4ga.

DanC

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I'd rather be Historically Accurate than Politically Correct !

[mrgto]

My main power feed goes directly to my Altenator "positive" Power stud.

The ignition wire goes to the S stud on the the Solinoid.

I have the 4 gauge from the battery going to the large stud on the center of the solinoid.

From the same large stud there is a 10 gauge wire going to the "positive" power stud on the Altenator.

[DanC]

YES.

"S" terminal has a Purple 14ga wire that comes from the ignition switch "Start" position.

"R" term (that I was calling "I" previously) has a Yellow 18ga wire going to coil.

"B" term (large post) has a Red 10ga wire and 4ga batt cable. The 10ga wire goes to a splice that joins that wire, the alt stud Black/Red 10ga wire, and Red 14ga wire together. The Red 14ga wire goes to the upper bulkhead connector to power the fuse block main feed.

Thats according to my 1971 Pontiac Service Manual for the 'A' series chassis.

I hope this helps,
DanC

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I'd rather be Historically Accurate than Politically Correct !

[DanC]

I was fixated on a '71 and I just noticed you have a '68.

There is a difference!

Red wire along with Batt cable go to large stud.

Purple wire goes to another stud "S"

Those are the three wires!

Thats according to 1968 Pontiac Service Manual for Tempest and Pontiac. Firebird is different.

DanC

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I'd rather be Historically Accurate than Politically Correct !

[mrgto]

Thanks for all the replys!!!
So here is my Question,
Could I Bypass the Solinod and take the 10 gauge directly to the altenator?

[george kujanski]

Sure, just make sure the battery feed to the car goes from the battery to the alternator and to the bulkhead connector. The factory had a fusible link between the battery and the alternator/bulkhead to protect against a short to ground in that circuit, which is a good idea. The factory connection of this circuit at the starter was probably a convenient tie point. In later years on GM cars, the battery positive clamp had 2 wires coming from it; the main battery feed to the starter and the accessory feed to the bulkhead and alternator output.

George