With 2 guage wire running from the battery up to the starter I would think it would make sense to have a fuse on the + cable located at the + battery terminal. If the + cable grounds out I want a fuse to blow, not my car.

Any recommendations? What size would it be? 100 amp? bigger? smaller?

Thanks!
Brian
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Site Author, Tri State Mustang Club of Cincinnati, Ohio
www.tristatemustang.com

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'67 Mustang coupe in "restomodification", 460 at 472 cubes and approx 500 hp, C-6 Tranny w/high stall convertor, 9" rear w/3:50 gears and Detroit Locker, Power Disc brakes all around. ETA = July 29, 2001 (TSMC 2001 Show!).

You are right to be concerned about that long cable. A little fender bender could turn into a major problem if an electrical fire was the result. It may be more work to do it right but its a small price for piece of mind.

Mike - That Phoenix Gold circuit breaker is a GREAt idea. I'll check it out!

Question: I'm running a 460 at 472 cubes and 10.5:1 compression. I'm using a high torque mini starter that's supposed to draw a lot fewer amps than the stock Ford unit. Anyone know how many amps a mini starter for my engine size and compression would pull? And what size breaker would you recommend? 100? 150? 200?

I've decided to use a solenoid on the trunk so the 2 guage wire is only hot when starting, per recommendaiton of this thread.

I have a wiring question though. The starter of my 460 has a built in solenoid like (GULP) a "Shevy". In other words it has a + terminalfor the battery feed and a small wire terminal (+) keyed to the ignition. When the ignition is turned the solenoid engages the starter mechanically and electrically.

Anyhoo, I'm thinking I need to install a Ford Solenoid in the trunk on the 2 guage wire and then run the smaller starter wire from the engine bay to the trunk. This would engage the trunk solenoid and provide 12V to the starter, BUT, how do I engage the starter solenoid?

I'm thinking I can just run a jumper on the starter from the ignition tab terminal to the + terminal.....so when the trunk solenoid sends 12V it engages both the starter motor and the starter solenoid and the starter acts like it's supposed to.

any thouhgts on this idea?

Go to the store and buy 15' of 12 gauge or something similar, (2) 2 gauge wire connectors ('eye' style), some 12 gauge connectors ('eye' style) and a good pair of wire cutters that will go through 2 gauge unless you already have a pair. Then follow these steps

1: Disconnect the 2 gauge wire from the battery.
2: Connect a 15' piece of 12 gauge wire to the start terminal on your starter, keeping the one that goes to the ignition attached as well.
3: Run this wire along the same path as your 2 gauge to the trunk.
4: Mount a Ford solenoid in the trunk next to or near the battery. It should be right in line with your 2 gauge wire.
5: Connect the 12 gauge wire to the positive terminal using the eye connectors. Remove any excess wire.
6: Use the excess wire and the eye connectors to run a ground wire from the ground terminal.
7: Use the cutters to cut the 2 gauge wire in two pieces, right where the solenoid is mounted.
8: Crimp the 2 gauge eye connectors to either end of the spliced 2 gauge wire.
9: Attach the ends to the solenoids main positive and negitive terminals. I don't think the direction of current is important here, so thats either the far right or left terminal. (note this does not apply to the ignition connections, since they use magnetical force to create the connection, and reversing the connection will cause the connection to be pushed away, just like reversing magnets).
10: Re-attach the battery terminal to the battery.
11: Attempt to start the car.

This should do the trick.. since the both solenoids are in parallel with each other, both will be turned on with the turn of the iginition, however the 2 gauge wire will only be 'Hot' when the key is in the start position because the solenoid will disable it.

Let me know if that works for you, or if you have any other questions.

The discussion of a trunk mounted relay makes sense, however I have a question.

How does the battery receive it's charge from the Alternator? Do I need to run three wires to the trunk?
1 - 2 guage for the starter
1 - 10 or 12 guage for the trunk solenoid
1 - 10 guage directly from the Alt to the the battery for charging purposes? (and what size fuse would I use on the charging wire....I do need a fuse there, correct?)