So the latest hurdle I have to jump is now electrical. Here is my setup:
460
4bbl
C6


That's the easy part. The electrical is pi$$ing me off. I have a dual battery setup. I had the truck running on Saturday, purring like a kitten. I was manually revving the throttle linkage, not a lot just to see if it would accelerate without a miss. It was smooth just before it died. Then I see the battery to block ground wire from the passenger side battery was a little loose. Then I see that all the interior bulbs blew. I replaced all the fuses, good bad or indifferent with the same amperage ones. I pulled the steering wheel thinking it was the park or neutral switch as it would only start in neutral. All the wiring for the signals is good, the wiring down at the bottom for the neutral switch seems to function like it should. Then I started chasing wires according to the schematics I was provided on from other members here.


So I replaced both the solenoids, just to verify they were not the cause. Not it. You can jump the starter solenoid on the passenger side but it wont get spark to the plugs.


I guess that there is just more investigation to do. I am thinking about getting a harness but that will get me in the doghouse for sure.


Does anyone have an example of a dual battery/ dual solenoid set-up? The solenoids I replaced were both good after all but I want to make sure I have it right. I never really touched them so I don't know why I think it's them when it's probably ONE FRIGGIN WIRE somewhere grounding out or connected wrong.


Any of you local guys are welcomed to come and assist. I will buy you gas and beer is in the fridge.

 

See here
also look at tech articles

 

The dual battery set up shouldn't enter into the equation.
The auxilliary battery (the one on the driver's side) is there just to power a camper. It doesn't really have anything to do with the actual operation of the truck. The solenoid for that battery (located on the driver's side splash pan) is there to disconnect the battery from the charging system when the key is off, that way you can power a camper off of that battery without running down the truck's main battery. When you start the truck, the solenoid reconnects the battery to the charging system to recharge the battery.
Are you saying the engine cranks and doesn't start or you turn the key and nothing happens?
If nothing happens, does anything (lights, etc.) work? If no, check the fusible link(s). These will be on the battery terminal side of the starter solenoid.

 

Originally the engine cranked over. I put some gas in the carb (It had set for a few weeks) and it started right up. The issue was I had to put it in neutral to do it. Otherwise, I just got a click from the driver's side solenoid. Then the ground was lose from the passenger side battery to the block. I tightened that. I was wondering why none of my lights worked in the cab and saw that all of the bulbs were blown. They were all working prior to that. So basically, I just get a click from the driver's side solenoid and the starter solenoid does nothing. The batteries are charged and seem good to go. I have traced the wires from the ignition switch, the light switch, the neutral switch, and both the solenoids are new. Yesterday, I switched the two small wires to the starter solenoid and it would start but not shut off.


Now the driver's side solenoid has power from the battery and the other side goes to the other solenoid plus one small wire to the harness. The truck ran fine before this and I didn't really mess with that wiring in the first place. The wiring I messed with was under the dash. I will trace again and see what I come up with. I need to take pics so you guys can see what I have.

 

I think redroads link to NBC Steve's truck is better than this pic.

And just PM fmc400 and life will be good if its a elec issue.

 

I will be checking the fusible links tonight. When I turn the key to ACC. the aux solenoid clicks. Then as you turn it to start, the same solenoid clicks again. Somehow, the signal is not getting to the other solenoid. I seem to be getting spark now as when I switched the small wires on the small posts of the starter solenoid it would run like I stated above but it wouldn't turn off.


On those fusible links, does it just look like a splice in the wire?

 

People around here seem to have a case of the "Mondays". No biggie, I'll just trace my wires again from end to end and see where the one missing signal wire or bad ground is.

 

The fusible link(s) will be on the battery terminal side of the starter solenoid. If the link hasn't been replaced before, it should have a little plastic flag molded on it that will say something like "fusible link" "16 Ga".
An easy way to check the link is to "tug" on the wire, if it stretches or feels soft, then the link is blown and needs to be replaced. Use only a fusible link of the same gauge, don't replace with regular wire.

 

Sorr y don,t mean to hijack the thread. My 79 also has the dual batterys do I have to have 2 batterys to run the truck?? or can I leave the driver side empty, cause I can,t afford 2 batterys right now. thanks

 

The auxilliary (driver's side) battery isn't necessary to run the truck. You only need one battery.

 

Scroll up and read mikeo0o0o0 #3 entry...

 

Here is the aux solenoid on the driver's side. The front terminal goes to the aux battery and the black and black and white goes to the other solenoid (Battery side). The signal wire comes from the dash.


Traced the wires back and forth and back again. It has to be something minor that I am overlooking. Jumping the starter solenoid will turn the motor over but I get no spark (With the key on). Turning the key to start only gets a click from the aux solenoid. Turning the key to on= 1 click from aux solenoid, turning the key to start= second click from aux solenoid. Somehow the starter solenoid is not getting a signal to engage. Here are some photos.

 

Starter solenoid. Arrow shows where the wires from the aux solenoid come from.




Same solenoid showing where the RED/BLUE wire comes in. I have a sneaking suspicion about this wire.

 

It's upside down, I apologize but this has no mate under the dash. Colors= GREEN/ RED and GREEN




Here is my neutral plug. Has power on both sides of the plug. Saturday, the truck would start in Neutral but not Drive.

 

Stop worrying about the auxiliary solenoid, it doesn't enter into the equation, the auxiliary battery doesn't have anything to do with starting or running the truck. Just so you know, it sounds like the aux. solenoid is functioning normally. The solenoid is only "on" with the key in the run position. Turning the key to the "run" position you'll hear the aux. solenoid turn on, turn the key to the "start" position and the aux. solenoid will turn off.