289 swap starter issue


dirtracer115

10+ Year Member

Joined
Apr 28, 2009
Messages
8
Points
3,001
City
upstate south carolina
Vehicle Year
1991
Transmission
Automatic
ive put a rebuilt 1965 289 in a 91 ford ranger, ive used this sites tech library the whole way and its been a huge help but now the truck is insured and drivable but its got an issue thats stumped me

i had to put the dual sump pan on it, i found out later that the old ford 4 in starter will not work with a dual sump pan, so i had to get a pmgr mini starter for it(i wasnt complaining) i wired it with the ranger hot wire straight to the starter solenoid, top post, then i wired a #16 wire to the cab were i hooked it up to a 50amp starter button then ran an #18 wire to the solenoid post to engage it when the button is it

now the problem is recently, when i first got the engine running again i didnt have this problem for first 2 weeks or so, when i hit the starter button sometimes it will just click like it is kicking the solenoid but will not turn over the starter. its incredibly moody, randomly does it, ive walked out to try to trouble shoot it and it works 20 cranks in a row then walk out to go to work the next day and play with it for 10 minutes to get it to crank

ive seen a few things it may be, seemed to start after my header burned the plastic cover on my starter wire, to test it i wrapped the burned part in black tape incase it melted the insulation but it had no effect. thinking that maybe the difference in wire size to kick the solenoid could cause it but a stock wire is no bigger then #18. the only thing ive seen that garuntees to get it to turn the starter is to jump the solenoid and hot post on the starter with a screwdriver

any advice or ideas, even just opinions, of what to check would be appreciated if nothing else just to rule out there not the issue cause ive been playing with it for days and still not found the problem, Thanks ahead of time and sorry for the long post, wanted to get anyone who wanted to give it a shot all the info i could
 
no because i completely bypassed the fender solenoid, to change the starter solenoid id have to pull starter again which i havent had a chance to do
 

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