Starter solenoid...3 terminals vs. 4?
 

I just picked up a mini-starter from E-Stink that's supposed to fit '58 ~ 80-something SBC.

My old GM starter solenoid has four terminals (Battery, Ground, Switch, Distributor/Ignition). The mini-starter has three terminals (Battery, Switch, Ground).

What do I do with the "Distributor/Ignition" wire?

Thanks in advance,

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

If the wire goes directly to the coil you might try leaving it off. I did this on my '71 & it works fine. The wire is just a bypass for the resistor wire during starting. My car starts ok without it. BTW - not sure about a '74, but a '71 bypass wire has a fabric type cover on it.

Right. This wire is fabric covered. I have the Lectric Limited ignition module in place of points and there was some discussion in their installation instructions about the resisitor. Not sure if I'm going to need this connection or not...

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

My Mallory unilite works ok without it. The only difference I noticed was the the motor would spin another revolution or so before firing. Does that ignition module require & ballast resistor or resistor wire?

Not sure. I believe they stated in the instructions the ballast resistor/wire could be left in place. I'll have to dig out the instructions and re-read.

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

...

Pos + coil wire from firewall is a resistor wire.
 

Yes read those instructions and see if u can bypass the coil resistor wire. But i doubt this since the coil type determines what voltage it needs. Our year did but HEI coils don't. Did u change coils?

Ur old solenoid (and mine) has 3 terminals and 4 wires. 2 red wires (1 from pos + batt, other to pos + junction on drivers fender skirt) that connect to large center terminal. 1 purple wire (from ignition sw) goes to "S" terminal on block side of solenoid. Last yellow wire (from coil pos +) goes to fender side "M" (or "B" ?) terminal of solenoid. There is no ground wire on solenoid - i do have a gnd wire to the starter mounting bolt. U can just cut that yellow wire and tape it back to insulate and keep it out of the way. The mini doesn't use/need that wire to the coil.

BTW my 4 sp uses a 168 tooth flywheel and though i could bolt up a GM mini i could not shim it to work. It would only stick into the flywheel. U can take a look at my comparision at http://members.cardomain.com/cardo0 pages 3 & 4. Now others with the automatic cars are using the GM mini successfully so good luck and please post what u find. I still have my GM mini and would like to use it in future. :yesnod:
:bigears cardo0 :yawn:

I still have my stock coil, non-HEI.

Our old starters have 4 terminals, if you count the ground terminal. The ground terminal has a short metal strap leading directly to the starter housing. The mini starter has 3, counting the ground terminal. The missing terminal is the coil/ignition terminal.

I'll be installing the starter this weekend. Stay tuned...

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA

Update: Installed the starter this evening. Cranked right up without the coil wire connected. Mini-starter sounds almost like a motorcycle starter.

Thanks for the replies.

D. Ocean
Miami, FLA