We put a heck of a race motor in my 87 EB this summer. After 125 miles of toying with it and debugging it I only have 2 problems left.

I've had my starter solenoid on the passengers side fender go out twice in the past 20 miles??? When I turn the key, the starter won't disengage even after the vehicle fires up. Last time I replaced the entire guts inside the column before changing the $17 solenoid (I know always check the obvious first). The motor has the 125 miles originally mentioned and the starting system is brand new. Could this be a hot from the solenoid grounding somewhere? or is it something obvious.

Any suggestions on where to start would be appreciated as I hate electrical work and have little aptitude for it(dad and grandpa both IBEW lifers wouldn't ya know).

We're supposed to get a ton of snow this weekend so I want to get it going, don't want to ding the new supercrew.

Jim
Kalamazoo MI
2002 F150 Supercrew (MINE)
2001 EB Explorer 5.0 V8 (Wife)
1951 *****'s engine yet to be determined.
87 EB Bronco (ours for life as we can't sell it for what we've spent, will trade for a pontoon boat though :7 )
- 351 Windsor block checked and bored .030 over
- New Keith Black .030 over pistons
- New Hastings rings
- Stock truck rods - checked and conditioned
- New Clevite 77 bearings (rod main and cam)
- Seasoned 351 crank turned to .010 .010
- New Dynagear oil pump and pump drive
- New Wolverine blue racer cam and lifters 290/300 - 496/520
- New Dynagear double roller timing chain
- Ford Windsor heads ported magnafluxed with new valve job
- Stock Ford valve covers (blue painted steel)
- 11.5 to 1 compression
- Stock 4 bolt vibration damper
- 400+ horse
- Holley 650 CFM Carb.
- MAC Shorty Headers
- Dual Turbo Glasspacks

 

Have you replaced the starter at all. I had one that did that on my old 73 highboy. might look at that.

good luck

 

To much force on the solenoid nuts can cause the post to twist inside and cause the solenoid to hang up....YIKES..!!

 

Is it a 3-terminal starter relay, or 4? You should be using one with all 3 terminal pointing straight across the engine bay at the opposite fender, and probably a diode-suppressed one.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I was wondering if its possible I have too many things hooked up here? Extra fog lamps etc? Can I get one thats oversized?
Jim

 

The electrical loads you've added to the truck have NOTHING to do with the starter relay, except that they're tied to the battery at that post of the relay. Their current doesn't flow thru the relay's contacts.