weigh in...minimum wiring needed to crank it up
 

by now you probably know my goal...
54f100 been sitting for 6+ years / just trying to get it cranked.
not planning to drive it / not even run it for very long
fuel and mechanical challenges already overcome by great advice on this forum
current wiring resembles a train wreck so if I start from scratch what is the minimum wiring I need to start the motor?
I don't know that I need lights / gauges / most of the usual stuff.
My thoughts...
battery to ground
battery to solenoid
solenoid to starter
solenoid to coil to distributor to ignition

what do you think? what am I missing? Please weigh in...

Grateful

The very basic is as you mentioned; good clean battery cables from the battery to a good grounding spot on the engine block, from battery to solenoid, from solenoid to starter. Next a wire to distributor and then a jumper wire from the coil with aligator clamp on the end to clamp to power post on battery. I like to use the aligator clamp because it will hold onto the battery but you can yank off quick if you have to kill the engine. You can either short the two power studs on the solenoid with a heavy jumper wire or the handles of a pair of pliers. I don't know if you have to energize the solenoid (two stud type) or if you just need to ground it out (one stud type) but you can wire the solenoid to engage, again, with a jumper wire with an aligator clamp. These systems are very basic and don't take much to get running and keep running. Make sure not to leave the coil connected to the battery too long without the engine running or you're going to burn the points.

This is for an engine stand.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...id=192508&.jpg

fresh oil & filter
AND pump up the oil system before doing ANYTHING.

spray some wd40 or something in the cylinders, crank it over by hand

THEN use the starter to turn it over a few times with the plugs out,
THEN install the plugs..

sam

good suggestions...I'll see what progress I can make tonight.

mike

Don't run it long if you have an alternator wired in unless you have a voltage regulator also. Don't ask me how I know.

Don't forget - good clean fuel from a clean source and clean lines.

Mechanical fuel pump - Right? If it's electric you will need power to it as well (as Dicks diagram shows).

FIRE IN THE HOLE! :-fire

Good luck!

J!