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STARTER wiring--need help!!

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Old Dec 19, 2005 | 10:34 AM
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Default STARTER wiring--need help!!

Blew a starter a couple weeks ago on my '71 454, and when I pulled it out, the wiring was so fried we had to replace it all the way back to the firewall. . . .

. . . I've got five wires, and I don't know where they all go; there are two red wires, one black, one plum . . .the starter has three posts on it, one marked "R" one marked "S" and the major terminal.

Anybody know where the wires go?

Thanks!!
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Old Dec 19, 2005 | 10:46 AM
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Originally Posted by DropTopBigBlock
Blew a starter a couple weeks ago on my '71 454, and when I pulled it out, the wiring was so fried we had to replace it all the way back to the firewall. . . .

. . . I've got five wires, and I don't know where they all go; there are two red wires, one black, one plum . . .the starter has three posts on it, one marked "R" one marked "S" and the major terminal.

Anybody know where the wires go?

Thanks!!
The 2 reds go to the big solenoid terminal, the purple to the "S" terminal. the yellow wire to the "R" terminal, the black to the bellhousing ground bolt.
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Old Dec 19, 2005 | 10:49 AM
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I believe it is this way: The fusibel links go to the main lug on the solonoid. The plum goes to the (s). The black goes to ground.

From Hot rod magazine:

The battery's positive cable installs on one side of the solenoid, and the starter cable goes on the other. The other two terminals are for the GM purple wire (originally to the "S" terminal on the GM solenoid), and the second "R" terminal is for vehicles equipped with point and condenser systems.

This diagram is a typical layout of an original Chevrolet starting system. Most '63 to '74 vehicles used a points and condenser system, with a resistance wire enclosed in the harness (from the firewall to the coil). The wire (yellow) from the "R" terminal of the GM solenoid routes to the "plus" terminal of the ignition coil, and its purpose was to bypass the ballast resistor during cranking for hotter spark. If you have an electronic igniton, there is no need for this wire.
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