I have a 1976 ford f150 with a 460 big block. I replaced the starter because I was only getting it to crank over every couple of tries or just a single click from the solenoid. I had power with lights and all before and after the starter was replaced. I was told by my brother to change out the solenoid which I did. Now I have no lights and no start or crank. I am lost and need help getting it back up and running. Help please!

 

Have you had your battery tested? How bout checking your battery cables for corrosion. Especially your grounds.

 

Sounds like you did not get the solenoid hooked up correctly?
X2 on are you sure the battery is good?
Are you sure the battery connections/cables and ground points are good?

Ck your fuseable link, it is a small orange in line fuse right down from the solenoid in the wiring harness. Feel it for being soft or swollen?

Always snap a pic of how something is wired, before you disassemble.

 

I made sure I hooked it up exactly as it came off the truck originally. I did use my phone to take a pre removal picture to guide me putting it back together. I didn'trip have the beret tested at a shop just used my brothers tester to see what kind if amps I was getting. Guess I will have to double check that measurement by taking it to a shop to be tested properly.

 

Definitely check your cables. I had a 90 with a 460 that did the same thing. Worked great every day. Had to pull the battery one day (my brother needed to borrow it) and when I put it back in, it would do the same thing yours is. But if I turned it just right, it would fire right up.

Start by testing your battery voltage across both posts. It should be between 12.5 and 14.5. If not, your battery is undercharged. Charge it up, try it. If it doesn't maintain a charge, you have either a bad battery or alternator. Have the battery tested by an auto parts store. If good, have the alternator tested. Next, test battery voltage with the negative lead touching the frame. Does it change dramatically from when it was touching the negative post? That could indicate a bad ground. If it doesn't, test your voltage at the solenoid post hooked directly to the battery. Is it different than the battery dramatically? Then you probably aren't getting power to the solenoid. If that doesn't show anything, touch the positive lead to the other side of the solenoid and the negative to the frame. Have someone turn the key to start. Do you have the same amount of voltage as the other side? If it is dramatically different, your new solenoid could be bad. If none of this works, test voltage at the starter itself with someone holding the key on start (obviously be careful, keep your hands off rotating parts, etc). If this voltage shows lower than your solenoid posts and battery, your cable running to the starter is bad. If you have any indication that even one cable is bad, replace them all. They don't cost much, and they tend to corrode at a pretty similar rate (once one goes, the others are soon to follow).

Note: I didn't cover testing the ignition switch, because frankly, I have never done it and don't want to lead you down the wrong path. It is possible that it has failed as well, though unlikely since you were working on the underhood wiring. Remeber, when its electricity, if something has failed after you change something, always start there.

 

Ok had the battery checked. It is god to go. I now have lights but still won't do anything but click when turning the key.

 

Have you cleaned the battery posts/connections? What about the ground? Use some sandpaper to scuff up the mating surfaces. My truck did the same thing you are talking about and it was a poor ground.

 

When my 78 did that it was a bad starter cable behind it. Some of the coating was worn in a section and ground against the frame. Fried the starter and the positive battery cable.

It started a few days earlier with the same symptoms you have. At first I thought battery, then solenoid, then starter...

 

Thank you everyone for your help in this problem. I finally figure it out. My brother didn't put the small metal bracket from the old starter that connects the starter cable to the s terminal on the solenoid that is mounted on the actual starter. Not the solenoid on the fender wall. It wasn't making a full circuit. I took it off today inspected it and poof there was the answer. I didn't look at the starter when my brother handed it to me while I was under the truck waiting to install the new starter. That would have saved a whole day of troubleshooting. Anyway no big deal put that small piece of metal on there hooked it all back up to the truck and wham bam it turned over like a champ. Replaced the battery in it as well just to make sure there is no problem with amps or volts any time soon. You guys rock with your helpful answers however it comes down to don't trust your brothers word that he gave it to you ready to be bolted to the truck without double checking.

 

Now it's on to the wonderful front disk rear drum brake job with hardware replacement cause one drum had a spring snap. Slowly but surely I'll have this truck running like new again. Then is all about getting it looking new again. Again thanks guys.

 

Post the before and after pics! Even if it's not that, it might help to eliminate it from diagnosis

edit: oh, haha! Brothers! Shoulda kept reading before posting