470 starter

[alberta boater]

Hi guys. I have a 1981 470. MC1. Getting frustrated with replacing starter. I realize the original was a Petrolite, without solenoid. I live in land locked Alberta, and the only way to get parts is to order them. Had the wrong starter sent to me ( a Delco with solenoid). My question is, can i install the Delco, and use the solenoid on the Delco, thus bypassing the solenoid on the engine? Anybody have any experience doing this? Seems like it should be do-able. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank You.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: 470 starter

Just wire the slave solenoid (the wire that went to the starter) on the engine block to the new starter solenoid. You will have to make a new smaller wire, but it will then work the same as the newer starters.

 

[alberta boater]

Re: 470 starter

Thanks Stoney. Hate to be a newbie, but, "make a new wire". please expand on your reply. I guess, i am asking you to dumb it down for me. Damm i hate not knowing. Thanks again, Ray.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: 470 starter

Originally the old starter (with no solenoid) got its high amperage current from the large terminal of the slave (block) solenoid through a heavy (yellow) wire. That wire is too large to fit on the start terminal of the new starter. You simply need to replace it with a piece of smaller wire (12 or 14 gauge) with the correct size terminals on the ends. With the new starter that wire will be carrying much less current then before. That is how the newer starters are wired. You do not want to run the wire directly to the starter solenoid from the ignition switch because the current needed to activate the starter solenoid is higher than that needed to activate the slave, so going to the starter solenoid could overload the ignition switch. The other thing you will have to do is get a new battery cable and run it directly to the large terminal on the new starter from the battery + terminal.