[grandville455]

Originally Posted by johnta1

Congrats!


If you have HEI, you don't need that wire to the I side anyway.
You should have 12 volts all the time to the ignition.
(not just on cranking)

Thanks John! Garage is still standing so must've done it right

[grandville455]

Update
It was 80 here today and the car started right up after driving it from work . The other day it was cooler out and the car just clicked! Had to sit a few minutes then fired back up. So this definately is a great idea if your having hot soak start problems!

[Bob Dillon]

This is the best one in this forum, with some very knowledgeable people giving advice.

So, I've got my battery cable run as the diagram in the original post shows. However, it's unclear in that diagram where the "S" wire shown goes. I have the BAT and "S" terminal jumped with a piece of 10-gauge wire. I also have a 10-gauge wire from the starter "S" terminal as it shows. I'm assuming the "S" wire goes to the "S" terminal on the Ford solenoid?

Also, when I dropped the starter to wire it up I noticed I had the coil wire hooked to the "R" terminal on the starter. Does the coil wire go back on there, or to another switched ignition hook-up?

And finally, is the "I" post on the solenoid hot when the ignition is turned on?

I used the 2-gauge Belden Ektron cables to wire this up, so my resistance should be down a bunch as well. Wired like this, they are quite a bit shorter than previously. Boy, it ain't no fun to run 2-gauge wire, but I managed and get everything tied down with insulated clamps, and as soon as I get these starter circuit question answered, I'm good to go.

Thanks in advance for your advice to a guy who knows f-all about auto electrics.

ETA: forgot one last question. I have a 1-wire alternator that was previously hooked to the positive terminal on the battery. OK now to just hook this to the permanently hot post on the solenoid? That would shorten the wire considerably (and look neater.)

[johnta1]

Putting the diagram on this page to see it easier:







The 'S' post wire on the Ford solenoid goes to the starter/ignition switch.
It's usually a purple wire from the firewall.
(also the wire that would normally go to the 'S' post on the original starter, instead of going down to starter wire it to the Ford solenoid)

The 'I' wire on the Ford solenoid would be used for a wire that went to the starter originally, if used.
(not all cars had them, it provides 12 volts to coil when cranking)

The coil ignition wire should not be run to the solenoid if it didn't go to the starter originally.

[johnta1]

And finally, is the "I" post on the solenoid hot when the ignition is turned on?

I don't think so, only powered when cranking?

forgot one last question. I have a 1-wire alternator that was previously hooked to the positive terminal on the battery. OK now to just hook this to the permanently hot post on the solenoid? That would shorten the wire considerably (and look neater.)

Yes.
(the battery side of the solenoid)

[george kujanski]

Bob, John has the answers, in fact with the Ford relay, the wiring is simpler since only the large bat cable goes down to the starter ford relay.

As john says, the relay "I" terminal can be used to connect the wire which was originally on your starter "R" teminal. The alt output cable can be wired to the bat side of the Ford relay

Just to calrify again, the wire to the "S" terminal on the Ford relay is the old (usually purple wire) that went to the starter solenoid "S" terminal. It is sourced from the ignition switch in the crank position.

An additional benefit of using the Ford relay is cranking the engine easily from under the hood; just jump the positive Bat term on the relay to the relay "S" term with a 14 ga. wire. If you have a manual trans, make sure it's in neutral.....

George

[Bob Dillon]

OK, thanks you two, I think I've got it. Having some trouble routing starter wire around the exhaust (car has headers) and as soon as the starter circuit is wired (safely) I'll start in on finding the ignition (wire that goes to the "S" terminal) and go from there.

As always, appreciate the help.

[johnta1]

That's another benefit of the relay.



You should only have one wire going to the starter, instead of 2 or 3.
(the large cable from the relay to the starter big post.)

You need the 'jumper' wire or metal strap from the big post to the 'S' terminal on starter solenoid.

[Bob Dillon]

Originally Posted by johnta1

That's another benefit of the relay.



You should only have one wire going to the starter, instead of 2 or 3.
(the large cable from the relay to the starter big post.)

You need the 'jumper' wire or metal strap from the big post to the 'S' terminal on starter solenoid.

Yup, dat's how she looks. Got the jumper wire in place from the starter bat terminal to the S terminal.

Cover me, PY pals, I'm goin' in.