Anyone still using their starter button after they switched it to 12 volt. I want to re-install the original style switch and use a starter button again... How did you wire yours?

 

As I understand it, there's good news and bad news. You can use a starter button, but you can't use your original one. Your stock button grounds the starting circuit, and changing to 12V neg ground doesn't work that way. You need a button that is a simple momentary switch and sends the power through it from the switch to the solenoid.

 

I am, but when i just ran out to the garage to check my wireing i was to stiff to get under the dash its cold,and dark, ha ha. if memory serves me well I took a 10 ga wire off a dedicated fuse thru the button and down to the solanoid does that sound right? it was a few years back. Plus since ive got a c4 mine has a neutral safty (seperate)

 

on mine it is grounding the neutral side of the solanoid the power on one side and the starter button on the other..works fine,,and only looks to be 14 gauge wire..

 

48 - 51 were as Wayne described, 52-on used the two wire.

 

2C-11500-A .. Starter Motor Button Switch (#1) / Windshield Washer Push Button Switch (#2) / Motorcraft SW-287 / Available from Ford.

MSRP: $11.33 // FTE sponsor PARTSGUYED.COM price: $6.12.

Applications:

#1 = 1952/53 all trucks-starter button.

#2 = 1965/66 F100/250 & 1966 E100-w/shield washer push button switch.

 

goes to show you what can happen in 50 years of someone else owning a truck..

 

I got this diagram awhile ago...its works with our trucks.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/848094-51-f1-what-do-i-use-for-an-ignition-switch-and-headlamp-switch.html

great info

 

So what's not been said is if you are converting to 12v, you usually change the solenoid itself to a more modern 12v one. That requires that you use the later 2-wire button in most cases. They are physically interchangeable, so no problems just snapping in a new one.

If you aren't using the stock starter, in particular if you have an SBC or a gear-reduction starter, there is more to it. I have the latter, if you want more info let me know.

 

What engine are you using ? Mine is a 289 small block. On later year cars as you know when you turn the key to prompt the starter, once the engine starts you release the key. If you wire the circuit that prompts the starter through that push button switch,it will work fine. BUT it has to be the two wire type so it doesn't ground out just prompts the starter. Hope that helped

 

Yah I'm far out on the darkside with this since she sports a SBC.... The PO changed out the engine and trans, removed the starter button and went to a newer style ign switch.... But I like the look of the starter button, stock ign cylinder and key... and want to return it to that way... So I need to get a starter button for a 52 then.... Let me know if I'm reading this right....

 

Yes, you are reading right, but since the SBC uses a solenoid at the starter, your button will send power to that solenoid, not a firewall-mounted one, and I presume your battery cable goes direct to the starter-mounted solenoid? and you won't use the "start" position on the ignition switch, unless you want to use two hands to start the truck (good anti-theft?)

 

If you can't figure out how to use the button as a starter button, it makes a great horn button. That's what I did with mine...

 

you can either hook up a relay under the dash and wire it up to the ignition switch, the push button and then to the starter solenoid or run a ford solenoid on the firewall to the chevy starter.

under dash relay a standard HR-106
firewall mount standard SS-587

or go with a 2 pole switch

 

I wired mine as a two hand start, key in the start position sends power to the push button...then you have to push the button to send power to the solenoid. I figured it was as close as I could come to a security system and I like push button starters. I was happy to find a push button that kinda looks like the original...

The bug now sports a push button too...