73 monte carlo starter help.

furly · 08-14-2008, 04:15 PM

Hi, I am new to this forum and I am not that savvy with cars. I have a 73 monte carlo 350 small block and the starter on it died. I bought a new starter but for some reason the Solenoid only has 2 terminals, one big one and one small one. I am kinda confused because my old start had 3, a big one and two smaller ones that were different sizes as well. I was wondering if someone would know if this sounds right, and if i should just install it without the third wire or if I bought the wrong starter.

**SABL** · 08-14-2008, 04:55 PM

Hi furly,

This is what I came up with:

http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...arter+Solenoid

You will need a spot for that 3rd wire so it looks like you may have the wrong starter. I will do a little more checking.

Also, if any shims are found when you remove the old starter you will more than likely have to install them with the new starter.

Good luck
SABL

furly · 08-14-2008, 05:08 PM

Thanks I appreciate it. I think I may have the wrong starter too, but I have been told and seen many different things. I am pretty confused, but I'd assume I would need three terminals just because there are three different sized wires for the starter O_o.

**wrench97** · 08-14-2008, 05:29 PM

The big terminal is the battery/power post, the S terminal engages the starter, the I terminal provides a full 12v to the coil to give it extra voltage to start the engine and has not been used since 1974 when electronic ignition came out standard, since you have a point/condenser ignition system you need the I terminal unless it has been converted to HEI.
On a side note the reason it needs 12v is because point system either have a resistor block or a resistor wire from the ignition switch to reduce voltage and increase to life of the points.

furly · 08-14-2008, 05:35 PM

Thanks for the help. I do not understand why they would give me a 2 terminal solenoid.

**wrench97** · 08-14-2008, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by furly

Thanks for the help. I do not understand why they would give me a 2 terminal solenoid.

A few years ago all rebuilds came with 3 terminal solenoids but since very few people were using them they started coming with 2 wire ones same starter different solenoids.

Whitetail Crazy · 08-15-2008, 07:15 AM

Probably be to your advantage to get a HEI distributor at a junk yard and install it so you would no longer need the third post on the starter.

08-14-2008, 04:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
furly Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp	73 monte carlo starter help. Hi, I am new to this forum and I am not that savvy with cars. I have a 73 monte carlo 350 small block and the starter on it died. I bought a new starter but for some reason the Solenoid only has 2 terminals, one big one and one small one. I am kinda confused because my old start had 3, a big one and two smaller ones that were different sizes as well. I was wondering if someone would know if this sounds right, and if i should just install it without the third wire or if I bought the wrong starter.

08-14-2008, 04:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
SABL Moderator Relaxation Room Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Galena, Ohio Posts: 1,219 OS: WinXP SP3	Re: 73 monte carlo starter help. Hi furly, This is what I came up with: http://www.napaonline.com/MasterPage...arter+Solenoid You will need a spot for that 3rd wire so it looks like you may have the wrong starter. I will do a little more checking. Also, if any shims are found when you remove the old starter you will more than likely have to install them with the new starter. Good luck SABL Last edited by SABL; 08-14-2008 at 05:05 PM. Reason: added info

08-14-2008, 05:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
furly Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp	Re: 73 monte carlo starter help. Thanks I appreciate it. I think I may have the wrong starter too, but I have been told and seen many different things. I am pretty confused, but I'd assume I would need three terminals just because there are three different sized wires for the starter O_o.

08-14-2008, 05:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,489 OS: Win7	Re: 73 monte carlo starter help. The big terminal is the battery/power post, the S terminal engages the starter, the I terminal provides a full 12v to the coil to give it extra voltage to start the engine and has not been used since 1974 when electronic ignition came out standard, since you have a point/condenser ignition system you need the I terminal unless it has been converted to HEI. On a side note the reason it needs 12v is because point system either have a resistor block or a resistor wire from the ignition switch to reduce voltage and increase to life of the points. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

08-14-2008, 05:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
furly Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3 OS: xp	Re: 73 monte carlo starter help. Thanks for the help. I do not understand why they would give me a 2 terminal solenoid.

08-15-2008, 07:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
Whitetail Crazy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Illinois Posts: 29 OS: windows xp	Re: 73 monte carlo starter help. Probably be to your advantage to get a HEI distributor at a junk yard and install it so you would no longer need the third post on the starter.