So a few months ago I helped my wife swap 77' a body onto another truck. Found out the truck was completely hybridized and had a fit tracking down wiring harnesses (truck was supposed to be a 73', but turned out to be a 78') and finally got it on the road. Alternator wouldn't charge, so did a 3G upgrade. Had to have a bracket fabbed, then figured out that it wasn't necessary because it only required a bit of grinding to make it work. Finally got everything together and the truck would not shut off via ignition switch. Starter stayed engaged after we swapped out for a third ignition switch. As soon as you hooked up the negative terminal the truck would crank. Key on or off, even without the coil or ignition wires connected.

Six total solenoids, three ignition switches, and three starters later, I igured the problem... It's all the parts. A simple trip to Napa for a $24 solenoid solved everything. Two Advanced Autoparts solenoids and three from Auto Zone and every one was faulty. Two ignition switches from Autozone returned for the final one from Napa, the starter was replaced twice before the Napa unit was purchased. Jesus, you would think I would learn.

In short, my advice to all you guys is to learn from my mistakes, don't buy crap from those other places, you may think you are saving money, but it doesn't work out that way. Napa is not perfect, I returned a master cylinder for my 2004 F250 last week, but it was hassle free at least.

 

You were lucky with NAPA then i returned 4 solenoids to them for my 73 last summer. I could have got a Motor craft one for just a little more money and probably less problems.

 

Never mind your problem. I still can't get past the fact that you helped your wife! What's with that? I'm envious.

 

Her truck. She negotiated for the truck, found the body and negotiated that. I helped her pull the body off the donor, pull the body off her truck, and complete the swap. When I say I helped, I mean I gave advice and broke the bolts loose she couldn't get, that is all.

 

Nothing else matters.

I'd tell you to marry her but it seems you may have already got that covered.

 

Chinese parts anymore are a complete crap shoot!

 

Awhile back I ordered a Motorcraft coil for my truck from RA, it was the Ecore type and the whole thing was turned crooked when it was assembled so I ordered a replacement and it was the same so I returned both of them, both said made in Mexico on the box. I cant believe that everything these countries produces is crap and not to get on the build it here thing (wish it all was) but someone that's ordering and boxing all this stuff up is telling these companies yeah it's just fine go ahead and send us your crap. We don't need any repeat customers, there are enough first time buyers. Getting bad when you have to go to the junk yard and look for 40 year old replacement parts because it's better than what you can buy. Sorry for the rant, I do feel better though.