Dokks74

Ok, I want to change out my stock starter for a high torque powermaster starter I received when I bought the car. I had too many issues with heat soak on my Nova last year that I want to eliminate the problem before it starts. My stock starter has 3 lugs, 2 small ones and a large one for the + cable. On the new powermaster starter, there are only 2 lugs, or terminals. What the heck is that extra lug or terminal for on my stock starter? All 3 terminals are being used on the stock starter.

compedgemarine

do you have a points distributor? the third wire supplies 12v to the coil when the starter is engaged to help the engine fire. if you have electronic ignition then you should have 12v to the dist at all times so the 3rd wire is not needed.

MDchanic

The big one goes to the battery, the "S" one goes to the ignition switch, the other one is the ballast resistor bypass for points ignition.

Are you running a points ignition?

- Eric

Dokks74

I believe it's a HEI.

MDchanic

So your third wire is going nowhere (or should be).

Find out where it goes, and it it's going to the positive terminal of the HEI, just disconnect both ends. It may be connected to nothing on the upper end already.

- Eric

oldcutlass

Some people still need the 12v from the starter to the distributor because in start that 12v drops off. I used a Ford style solenoid to feed my starter and ran the "I" post to the HEI. It will also help with the heat soak issue!

MDchanic

I can't argue against that wire potentially being useful for a slight voltage boost while starting, but I would have to say that if you get a significant boost, you've got a problem with excessive resistance in your wiring somewhere.

In any case, his new solenoid has only two terminals, so this information is not for him (don't want to cause confusion).

- Eric

oldcutlass

I wired the solenoid specifically for the mini-starter on my car!