Thaks guys.  I got the starter out.  Was actually pretty easy once i knew where to look for the 3rd bolt.  I was trying to find it closer to the 12 o'clock position rather than where it was.  Once i found it, it was a snap.

The starter is cooked.  Rear bushing is destroyed, shaft is galled, end plate is burned & distorted.  Looks like the windings are cooked too.

Oddly the bendix seems fine.  I spun it up with a model airplane starter to retract it, and is moves freely. However, Im not sure if it was extended because it stuck that way while running or if I twisted it taking out the starter.  Either way, Ill probably replace it anyways if i go with the OE starter.

One question, just because IM an idiot; I do know that an electric motor can generate a current if its spun up.  It isnt possible that if the bendix got stuck and the starter motor was spinning at a few thousand revs that it would throw off enough current to power the ignition system through the coil terminal of the starter solenoid, is it?  I cant imagine it could, but I figured Id throw it out...and yes, im grasping at straws....only because its been an itermittent problem with a 3-4 year old solenoid and now one thats only a week old....

On a side note, I pulled off the pwr strg hoses to replace the one the tow truck driver broke, and only once apart realized that Tee-Bird prods sent me the wrong pressure line......AAARRRGGGHHHHH

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

After you've used John's braile method to get to the top bolt, the starter may be difficult to get out if the starter bendix is stuck all the way out in the crank position. But it will come out of there. One last thing to check, is make sure you have a good engine/body ground.

Dan      Kingman Az.      86409

Thanks!  Starter actually came out pretty easily once I got the trans dipstick mount our of the way, then used the advice I got here and just slid it along the tie rod and out. 

Grounds are good.  I have the ground cable from neg terminal to block, and the strap from body to block, both in good, clean, tight condition.

Thanks!

**EDIT** NEver mind about the starter acting as a generator theory; if that were the case, the engine wouldnt have kept running when i disconnected the battery, and the starter wouldnt have engaged as soon as i reconnected the battery cable.....

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

Guys, another question. Would a bad starter cause the solenoid to stick? If it was a lower efficiency would that draw enough current to make it stick? I'm just trying to get my head around why id have the solenoid go bad so quickly? Something doesn't make sense to me....or am I overthinking this?

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

DC current as found in a car is much more prone to welding contacts shut than AC current. Yes a defective starter could draw more current and cause the contacts in the solenoid to weld closed.

The original solenoids would last for many years but I doubt that the new one you bought was made in the US.

My 86 Ranger had the solenoid stick when it was only 2 years old. The starter was smoking by the time I got the battery disconnected.

The replacement solenoid from Ford was still working 15 years later.

While on the subject of solenoids, any guys trying an EFI set-up should replace their starter solenoid with a 1986 or later style. These have an internal diode to bleed off the spike caused by the collapsing field of the relay coil when the the key is turned from start to on. The spike was killing the car's computers. Cannondale ATV's had the same problem years later.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

Continually trying to crank an engine with a very low battery can also contribute to welding contacts in the solenoid.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Hey Grove,

As Kenneth said, lots of y blocks ran around with only two

screws holding the starter, but don't do it. They are prone

to loosen over time.

55f100

West Monroe,La.

Hey regrove;;      Something that I do when putting the starter back--   I use a stud in the upper bolt hole on the starter. With the stud you can hang the starter, then put the remaining 2 bolts in,  Yeah getting the nut started on the stud is a pain, but can be done--  just have to hold your lower lip right!!!   Just easier  hope this helps   God Bless   Eddie

Eddie

Lake Forest, Ca. 92630

thanks guys, to everyone who has chimed in!  I really, really appreciate it.

Bottom line is that im trying to find some way to ferret out if this is a component failure or a problem with the wiring harness.  Im really hoping that its not a wiring problem, as I really dont want to have to try to dissect the wiring harness to find an intermittent fault.   But on the other hand, i cant really rationalize what would have caused a 2 week old solenoid to go out, especially since I put in the new solenoid for the same reason (starter intermittently would keep running....)

Im just really really frustrated right now, as im sure many of you can relate to.  The car has historically been really reliable, but my 3 year old son loves driving in it, and im not sure how much we will do of that if I cant trust it.....plus the car is comitted to be featured in some local car shows (like main stage/bandstand type stuff) and I really dont want to disappoint the organizers who are counting on us.

Ron

Ron Grove

Wauconda, IL

Ron! Where does the alternator hook into the  wiring on the car?The solenoid battery terminal maybe?