Hello Fellow Hotrodders,

I have a dilemma. I recently installed a new Ford solenoid on our 67 Camaro because of heat soak. The starter is (was) a Delco mini with B+ and S terminals. The car has a kill switch and also push button start. You do not need a key to start, and this system works perfect except for the heat soak. I'm telling you this as I don't believe they have anything to do with the heat soak as I'll explain. I transferred all wires correctly- battery and 2 wires from B+ terminal of starter to one side of remote solenoid, new terminal soldered on 1.0 battery cable. New cable (4.0) with 3/8 lugs from other side of remote solenoid to starter solenoid. Two wires were transferred from the S terminal of the mini starter to the S terminal of the remote solenoid. I made a buss bar and attached it between the B+ and S terminals on the starter.I might add the battery is in the trunk, and is grounded in the trunk, and also another 2.0 ground cable to the engine block, and from engine block to front frame. I also installed a ground wire from the remote solenoid just to be sure.
The car started right up, so I went for a cruise to get it good and hot. I stopped several times and it started right up every time (no heat soak!), BUT the starter solenoid kept engaged until I tapped the throttle. I shimmed the starter to no avail, it made it worse. I removed the starter and took it to an auto electric shop where I explained the problem and asked for a test which they did. I know the fella that owns the shop. The starter gear would not snap back during testing, so he changed the solenoid on it and it still would'nt snap back. We took the buss bar off and it worked A-OK. We took a rebuilt high torque (not a mini, but not a OEM either and tested it with the buss bar connected and it worked perfectly. He said take it and try it.
I put it on, carefully checked all connections and started her up. Went cruising came home and shut it off. It would not start, more of a clunk and click sound. I checked, and the starter gear was still meshed with the flywheel yet it wouldn't roll the engine over. I loosened the starter bolts and the starter gear retracted. I shimmed (2 real thin ones) and it still stuck and would not roll over but just clunk, and click like the battery was dead. I added 3 more shims and still the same. I turned the headlights on, and they go out during cranking.
The shop is closed till Mon. Any ideas or insight would be greatly appreciated. Could it possibly be a defective Ford solenoid? Sorry for the long email, but I wanted you to know the whole ball of wax. Again thanks,

Tom,
(dollybud)