I just replaced my upper and lower intake gaskets, along with a new ECT sensor, vacuum lines and added dielectric grease to all my connectors on my 1988 302 4x4. I am 99% sure I reconnected everything when I reinstalled everything as I made a checklist when I tore apart. The only thing I did different was the ground wire on the passanger side of the lower intake at the back where theres a bracket holding the smog pump hose. Its a stud but instead of sandwiching the ground connector between the two nuts, I sandwiched it between the nut and the manifold as the bracket was broke and was a pain to get off.

The problem: The truck cranks over, full power for 2-3 revolutions, then drains the battery down to 9 volts with little cranking power to eventually nothing.
Ibought a new $30 solenoid and fried it. Fused itself together and the engine was cranking as it should until I was able to run over and disconnect the ground wire.(this was after 2-3 attempts) Put the old solenoid back on and continues to have this problem(current solenoid is maybe a month old)
Load test on the battery passed
Test on the starter passed
Took the wire from solenoid to starter, and ground wire and they were good. Cleaned all connections and reinstalled, still having the problem.
I took a picture of the distributor before I pulled it(as well as marked it) so my timing is fairly close. I have tried retarding the timing with same luck. The plug wires are correct. Brand new cap and rotor. plugs and wires have around 16k. Spark plugs are gapped and burning well.

About three weeks ago I did have a similar scenairo happen where I try to restart the truck immedialty after turning it off after a "hard" drive(highway ect..") and it did have a hard time cranking over similar to what is happening now, Drawing a lot of amps to crank.

Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Josh

 

Sounds like something is wrong with the engine.

Is the engine oil level ok?

Make sure the battery is fully charged.

Pull the EEC relay to disable the fuel pumps and so the injectors can't fire.

Remove all of the spark plugs and try cranking the engine.

Starter should easily spin the engine.

Does the starter still bind?

If it doesn't, does any antifreeze spit out of any of the cylinders which would indicate a leaking head gasket.

Does any excessive amount of gas spit out of any cylinder while cranking the engine which could indicate a leaking fuel injector.

 

The problem is fixed.

When I reinstalled the distributor, I failed to recheck the mark I made where the rotor should be. I was off one tooth. Purrs like a kitten now!

thanks,
Josh