LUVTruck.com

I love reading the comments and suggestions that everyone writes about.
I have one comment or suggestion to those of you are planning to swap to a V6 or V8 engine in your LUV.
This concerns the starting and ignition circuits on the stock Luvs. When you get through installing a new engine you will immediately find that the stock starter wiring circuit will not activate the new starter solenoid! It will usually just click, the answer is to install a HD relay, this way you can run a heavier guage wire to the relay and the same to the starter solenoid. Then all your stock starting curcuit has to do is activate the new HD relay. These are the same relays used on almost all foreign cars and on driving light kits, usually 30-40 amp.
I'd like to also suggest using one of these same relays for your ignition circuit, especially if you are using a HEI distributor like I use. Since the HEI distributors don't use a voltage drop you can run a heavier wire (10-12 guage) to the relay and then directly to the distributor. The HEI distributors require a significate amount of current in order to function properly and this is one way to assure that they do get adequate voltage.
One other thing, the stock Luv ignition circuit does not provide power to the coil in the "start" position, so I use a third relay, one that is activated by the starter relay to provide power to the distributor while the engine is cranking. Of course if you have one of the older starters with two small wires coming from it the above is not applicable.
Just a thought about some of the smaller problems that I have ran into?
Good luck, dp

I used a ford starter relay (some call it a solenoid) and then put a jumper wire on the starter this is the same as the GM bypass starter system.
I measured the voltage at the starter with the stock setup and it dropped to 9 volts not good for starting now its guaranteed full battery voltage.

_________________
1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

Same here...

_________________
If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

You are right! The Ford starter relay does do the same thing, I just use the later relays because they cost less$$ and are less noticeable, but your idea works every bit as well. I used to use them and the constant voltage solenoids a lot myself.
Just a bit of interest, you may remember the old 1957-59 Ford retractable hardtops? These had 14 solenoids hidden behind the back of the back seat to activate the folding top!! How would you like to wire one of those?

dp

I used to have a box of those solinoids but lost it a long time ago

_________________
1978 pro street step/side 455Buick, 4sp,4.11s, 31/18.5s

Years ago, we had a v8 conversion that wouldn't start when hot. We went thru everything and then did what should have done first. Found that the stock starter signal wire is to small approx 16awg to carry the current needed, especially when it was extended for a neutral safety switch. Used the ford solenoid for the signal circuit. This is the actual fix that Chevy used in later years. I think they used an RV battery solenoid. The newer round solenoid is smaller and seems a little quieter.

_________________
The light at the end of the tunnel, may just be a train coming!