On my 70 442 I noticed the inner small wire post (stud) is almost touching the oil dipstick tube. When I say close I mean 1/32"! Do I have the wrong solenoid?

 

I think that is just the way it fits. MY sons 68 Actually touched when we were braking in the cam, on a new complete rebuilt. Engaged the starter at about 2500 RPMs,a very scary sound, we thought are new motor blew up,panicked grabbed the first tool we could find, wire cutter, and cut the cable. We had pulled the coil wire and it just keep running till cable cut. Went bought new cable end fired right up, and was good to go. We wondered why the tube, had a small hole on it and duct tape, now we know why. Bend and place the cable the best you can so it doesn't happen.

 

Ok but I mean the INNER small wire. This is the one that provides full 12V to the dizzy during cranking. The large purple wire that engages the starter is the OUTER wire. That post is all clear. It is the inner post, not the wire, that is so close to the dipstick tube.

 

There's no relative motion between the starter solenoid and the dipstick tube. If you're really losing sleep over this, put a rubber vacuum cap over the end of the stud.

 

10-4. But I would think the General would never ever build such a close gap between a positive and a ground?

 

Well, what do you think has moved? The dipstick only goes in one way, and the solenoid only goes in one place on the starter. You do have a stock starter and not a mini-starter that can be clocked around, right?

 

Dipstick tubes are not exactly a precision part. It may not have been clocked correctly before installation.

 

A photo would go a long way towards eliminating speculation and fostering useful suggestions.

 

Can't get my phone up in there. I ended up dropping the starter and grinding off some of the stud. For some reason I had an exceptionally long stud for that inner wire - 1/4" longer than the other wire. All is good now