Second selonoid wiring?

[Jungle Boy]

I have been told that a second selonoid at the the starter will give me more power to the starter and extend the life of the starter. Can anyone confirm this? If so, can you talk me through the wiring of it. Any help would be greatfully accepted. The motor is a small block chev with a bottom mount mini-starter.

[Havasu Hangin']

I wired one on my SBC. In my case, I was having voltage drop from the ignition switch to the starter- my stock wire is only 12 gauge and about 15 feet long.
The solenoid I have mounts close to the starter (I mounted it off the block to keep it cool), and runs two short 10 gauge power wires to and from the starter- one wire comes from the battery positive, and the other connects to where the stock ignition switch wire was mounted. The original wire from the ignition switch mounts on the new solenoid. Also, since I have the solenoid mounted off the engine, I ran a beefy ground wire.
Essentially, you now have two 1' 10 gauge power wires carrying the voltage instead the stock 15' 12 gauge. This solved my cranking problems, which were happening when the engine was warm, even with a new starter.
Hope I didn't confuse you too much. http://www.goldenplasma.f2s.com/forum/smilies/happy06.gif

[77Spectra]

Get the flat type of solenoid. All of the connections are on top. They handle much more current and you will not have to worry about smokin it. Also, disconnect ignition and crank in the driveway. Feel all the wires to the starter, solinoid, ground, etc. If you feel the slightest bit of heat, redo that connection.

[Jungle Boy]

Thanks a bunch guys. That will help a lot. Have fun and I hope it safes me a couple of bucks in starters.

[FastDave]

Can you guys recommend a specific type of heavy duty solenoid for my 454? I was towed most of the way to the dock today by a SEADOO! Ech! The embarassment of it all. When the engine was warm, it would take quite a few tries just to get it to crank! Anything else I can do to solve that issue as well? I have two heavy-duty marine batteries in there already and I want to do all the misc engine stuff myself rather than just drive the boat.
Thanks,
FasssstDave...

[77Spectra]

Just goto the local auto parts and say " Give me one of them flat type solenoids" Some of them come in white so you can color cordinate....hehe and read my post above.

[Havasu Hangin']

Originally posted by FastDave:
I was towed most of the way to the dock today by a SEADOO! Ech! The embarassment of it all.
Hey Dave,
First of all, friends don't let friends get towed by Seadoos.I had the same problem with cranking. My engine has 10-1 pistons and 18 degrees initial timing. When it got warm, man, the poor starter would labor. In addition to the batteries, I did three things:
Install good, heavy duty 2 gauge battery cables and connections. My boat came stock with cheesy 4 gauge auto cables. http://www.goldenplasma.f2s.com/forum/smilies/confused50.gif
Install the second solenoid. Mine is just a basic external starter solenoid- any auto parts store will stock it. I am not familiar with the heavy duty "flat" type that 77Spectra is referring to, but it sounds like it can handle more amps. http://www.goldenplasma.f2s.com/forum/smilies/happy02.gif
Last, I installed a MSD Start/Retard module. This backs off the timing 10 degrees while cranking. In my opinion, you only need this if you have an obscene amount of initial timing (like me). http://www.goldenplasma.f2s.com/forum/smilies/confused43.gif
Good luck, and for god sakes, don't let anyone see you being towed by a PWC!
http://www.goldenplasma.f2s.com/forum/smilies/happy25.gif

[Oldsquirt]

There is an alternative to the addition of a Ford starter relay. Since the voltage drop problem lies only in the starter solenoid trigger circuit, several companies have come up with nice kits that use a small relay like you would use for a set of driving lights. I bought one a while back just to see how it looked. Got it through a local speed shop. Two kits are offered, one includes a starter bump for you solid lifter guys. www.painlesswiring.com/relays.htm?clkd=iwm (http://www.painlesswiring.com/relays.htm?clkd=iwm)
These guys are well respected in the street rod and performance industry. Kit involves no modification to the battery cable to starter, mounts with one screw and comes prewired. Just need to terminate a few wires. I personally think it is a more elegant solution to the problem.
Another company that has a similar kit is Ron Francis Wire Works www.wire-works.com/catalogwindow.asp (http://www.wire-works.com/catalogwindow.asp)
They have a waterproof kit!
If anyone tries one of these out, please let us all know how it performs.

[Oldsquirt]

One other tidbit. If you want to avoid getting towed by a PWC, and your engine wiring includes a terminal block at the bellhousing, you can bypass the entire circuit to starter relay if you run into a hot restart problem. You only need a couple inch length of wire. Momentarily jump it from the B+ on terminal block to the start terminal. Mine are only two spots from each other. It should get you up and running if your problem is indeed related to high resistance in the start circuit through the Ignition switch. I keep such a wire handy JUST IN CASE! Also, clean and tighten EVERY connection you can get your hands on, regularly.

[FastDave]

Yep. Embarassing. You can just see the rope in the picture, but she's towing me. Yep. A girl. I think I'm going to spend more money on wiring.
http://www.dpgdigital.com/misc/towed.jpg

[Havasu Hangin']

Originally posted by FastDave:
Yep. Embarassing... but she's towing me. Yep. A girl. I think I'm going to spend more money on wiring.
OK, this is worse than I first thought... http://www.goldenplasma.f2s.com/forum/smilies/scared04.gif
Obviously, we need to do two things:
1. Destroy the evidence. Are you being blackmailed with that picture? http://www.goldenplasma.f2s.com/forum/smilies/mad70.gif
2. Start (pardon the expression) a "FastDave Wiring Fund" to ensure this NEVER happens again. Where do I send the check? http://www.goldenplasma.f2s.com/forum/smilies/happy15.gif
http://www.goldenplasma.f2s.com/forum/smilies/happy25.gif

[Oldsquirt]

At least you look comfortable!
Dave for the record, I put a setup similar to what I described above on a friends 70 Monte Carlo ss454 many years ago and it worked fine. Many people have used the Ford relay setup with success. Before doing either, I suggest a complete inspection of all wiring and connectors. Got burned myself last month by corrosion in a battery cable end. Dead in the water. No one around. Had to fix it on the spot. Replaced cable next day! Its all part of the fun, right?

[FastDave]

Havasu - Now THAT'S funny! ;-)
FasssssstDave...

[77Spectra]

Huummmmmmmmm, Well if you were towed by a girl, thats not so bad. I might try to work that in with a pickup line. Really guys get that flat solenoid and you will never have trouble again.

[smash]

you could put your ignition and starter on different switches. run a momentary switch to the starter and a seperate toggle to the distributer. works for me you just crank it over than hit the power switch

[brazosriver]

fastdave...what lake is that in the picture...brazos

[FastDave]

Smash -
That's coming into the dock at Lake Lavon. It's a pretty good lake here in Texas and not too many people out even on weekends. I stopped going to Lake Lewisville a couple years ago because it's way too crowded and too many idiots out there. I still like to drive by Sneaky Pete's over there, though, and watch the thongs.
FasssssstDave...

[brazosriver]

fastdave...get that boat fixed and be ready for sunday the 26th at ray roberts..brazos

[77Spectra]

Hey Fastdave, is Wednesday night still jet night at Lavon? All the big boys used to come out on Wed. If you see a Red/WT Spectra in a couple months, stop by, that be me...