Intermittent starter issues... Options

[SKL1]

Noticed recently the starter acting up on my '73. I have the stronger starter (can't remember where I got it as it's been a few years, but the same one on my '71 I got from Alan Johnson Racing way back when) and every so often I just get the "click" with no start- sometimes when cold, ocassionally when warm.
In the old days (and I mean really old days, back in the '70's) when that happened you'd hit the solenoid with a hammer and that would take care of it.

This starter is probably 5-6 years old, but used pretty sparingly... now I'm a little nervous to take it somewhere if I'm not on a hill!

Eventually it will start but seems pretty unpredictable. Any ideas???

[Mark Henry]

Do it my way, carefully bend the mount bracket, careful not to stress the bracket to the plastic solenoid housing and enlarge the hole and it will bolt right to the bottom starter stud/nut. Buy or make a male with ring hole quick connect. The only thing my drawing doesn't show is the stock heavy wire battery to starter that's already there .
The bracket must be grounded for the solenoid to work.

Not a single hole is drilled or wire cut.

I don't agree with the top drawing because it's running the heavy wire to the solenoid then to the starter. A lot of heat is generated at that connection and that could become a failure point. It will work and the Ford solenoid should be fine, but why tempt fate when you don't have to.
Takes a poopload of amps to turn over a starter.

[KELTY360]

Do it my way, carefully bend the mount bracket, careful not to stress the bracket to the plastic solenoid housing and enlarge the hole and it will bolt right to the bottom starter stud/nut. Buy or make a male with ring hole quick connect. The only thing my drawing doesn't show is the stock heavy wire battery to starter that's already there .
The bracket must be grounded for the solenoid to work.

Not a single hole is drilled or wire cut.

I don't agree with the top drawing because it's running the heavy wire to the solenoid then to the starter. A lot of heat is generated at that connection and that could become a failure point. It will work and the Ford solenoid should be fine, but why tempt fate when you don't have to.
Takes a poopload of amps to turn over a starter.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Mark's method is clean, simple and works great. No wires are cut or holes drilled so it's easily reversible although I can't imagine why you would. Never had a starting problem since I followed that diagram and I did the same installation on a friends 914 with the same results. Those Ford solenoids are a dime a dozen at old car swap meets...well, maybe $5 but offer $2 and that will usually do it.