trying to figure out why half the part numbers that come up for a 77 F350 460 have a great big solenoid sitting on it, and half don't.

i had the large external solenoid style, and it just failed. I pulled the starter off the 390 in my garage, and it doesn't have the big solenoid on it, but it worked great to get me rolling again for a couple days.

the big solenoid sits awfully close to the exhaust, seems pointless to me. is it just a higher torque model designed to work with big blocks that get abused and often have to start really hot?

 

I have both but had to wire it in a way to make it work. I hooked it up wrong and my lights started the motor. Lol. So I rewired it and now works just fine. The starters come with the solinoid. I will post pictures and know how for anyone who will come across this issue. It'll be under here's my 75 supercab