Question: [MM] "I bought a palette donor and am wiring up the starter relay & starter. Got Chiltons, got Helm schemos, tried searches, got questions :-)

I'm going to call the relay the 3 terminal gadget on the 3/4 by 3/4 and the solenoid the thing that sits on the starter.

There are 2 wires going to the starter solenoid - a big fat one and a little slide on terminal. Both come from the starter relay. Both are black.

The FFR manual says Chiltons is wrong and fat one comes from the relay - other side from the battery.

Where does the smaller wire hook into?

I thought it was a ground for the starter solenoid, but it's open to the solenoid fat wire and low resistance to the solenoid output that drives the starter.

Any help GREATLY appreciated - 92 donor"

Answers:

[TM] "The large wire goes to the battery side of the "relay" and the little wire goes to the other side of the "relay". The big wire supplies constant 12 volts to the solenoid mounted to the starter and the little wire is the one that energizes the solenoid when the key is turned to start."

[Bo] "The round solenoid with three terminals have a big cable from the battery to one big terminal, a big cable to the starter on the other big terminal, and the small slide on wire from the ignition switch. The cable to the starter is the only wire/cable to the starter. The starter receives its ground from the block assuming it is properly grounded by a cable to the frame under the solenoid and a strap to the frame in the rear of the block usually."

[MM] "There are 2 types of starters - 1 wire coil starters and 2 wire permanent magnent starters.

The chilton's manual shows the 2 wire starter circuit. FFR says it's wrong and shows the one wire circuit. Helms has the 1 wire circuit.

The 3 wire relay is different for both just as both above responses are for different starter types."

Question: [JD] "This weekend I'll probably install a clutch behind my 331 (stroked 302) and cover it up with the bell housing. I don't have a tranny yet, but I figured I might as well bite the bullet and buy me a starter before I scrape up the funds for a T-5.

Should I just go down to my local Autozone and get a rebuilt unit for an '89 to '93 Mustang, or are there better one's out there that won't cost me a small fortune? (And I think that I've read somewhere that Ford went to a lighter and better starter in '92, but I'm not sure.) And will a stock Mustang starter live a long and productive life behind a 10.4:1 small block, or do I need a heavier duty unit?"

Answers:

[1846] "They are the same in lots and lots of ford 302's. I have a mercury marquis starter and the mustang starter and they appear to be identical. I ran the mercury one in the cobra last year without any problems. Junk yards are full of old crown vics and marquis'."

[mi] "If your running high compression you might want to try the Ford Motorsport High torque starter. It looks like a GM style but much smaller and looks better. I think mine was around 140-150 but they wanted 70-80 for a rebuilt and 30 buck core charge and I didn't have one to give them so it justified spending another 40 for the high torque. Give Summit or Mustangs Unlimited a call. I think you'll like it a lot better. PS you don't need a core when ordering a FMS high torque."

[ak] "I'm using a powermaster. It's has a higher torque rating and gear ratio. you'll probably need something like that due to your higher compression. I will be starting my engine up next week and it's also a stroker. 347 with high compression some where between 11-11.5:1."

[t50] "10.4 comp is not that high. I don't even think 11to1 is either. A stock starter should live a happy life there with no problem."

[ch] "Rebuilt from local auto store(ABC) for $49.95 guaranteed for life in 10.4 :1 compression. Starts every time."

[1389] "Get a CVR. It is made in Canada and will turn anything over, is almost infinitely adjustable and with turn your motor over until you battery dies. Great Piece and about $150.00. I got mine from Jeggs."

[WP] "I had used a Motorsport HD starter and had a hot start problem(with a 2 ga power wire on the battery), replaced it with the CVR starter and have never had any problems since."

I'm using the stock '91 mustang starter on my 347 11:1 engine with no problems at all.

Go back to the FFR FAQ