Starter problems, need help asap

[quickjagg]

We got the engine in and everything hooked back up, went to start it and blew the fuse to the lights (the hood light connectors were touching each other). so we wraped them with tape so that we could crank the engine over a few times and get the oil running through it. but when I turned the key nothing happened. The starter worked before we pulled the engine, so I'm guessing I've hooked the wires up wrong. Does anyone have a picture or detailed directions on what wires go where on the starter for my 81.

Thanks for any help! I really want to get ther back on the road!
-Chris

 

[69MyWay]

Your starter has three terminals.

Most only use two.

The large post on the starter will be your main battery cable and power leads. This is easy to determine because the size of the hole in the electrical connector.

The small terminal that is closest to the engine block is the start terminal. You should have one wire hooked up there. It is usually purple. Sometimes you have a second small terminal wire that goes on the small lug nearest the right fender in relation to the other three posts on the starter.

Make sure your ground is connected back to the block. That is the most typical mistake most people make. Follow the ground cable off the right front frame rail and make sure it terminates against the engine block.

My guess is you forgot to hook up the ground.

 

[quickjagg]

YAHOOO!!! she bumped over!! now I just need to fire her up! Thanks a ton

Thanks again!!
-Chris

 

[69MyWay]

What was the problem with the starter?

 

[quickjagg]

I had two wires hooked up backwards, there were only two studs comming out of it and one had a thick ground comming from the firewall on it, and another wire, but there were two wires on the harness with a ring connector, so I swaped the one that I had connected, with the one that I had attached to the block, and it works fine. Now I just need to find out why it wont fire... any ideas? there is one wire to the distributer that is missing which is labeled "tach" but I can't seem to find the wire that goes there, could this be the problem? where would I look for the wire?

Thanks for all the help!
-Chris