Topic: 81 CAPRI, 351, T5, 8.8 POSI...WANT TO HEAR RUN....HELLLPPPP!!!

[fordman1985]

so, i got the 351 in, all bolted to the tranny ready to go, but i can not get it to roll over at the key. i have noticed a like 10 gauge wire going from the starter solenoid into the car, my dash is out right now so i can see it clear as day.....but i dont know if its something that needs to be hooked up or not.....anyone with some experience with the early 80s mustangs and capris? ive had this car for 2 years and have never had it running, help me.

[rmodel65]

ive never had a fox that early so i dont know what wire youre talking about

[fordman1985]

would the neutral safety switch have anything to do with it not starting? and no power getting to the coil? thats rthe only thing i can think of that would be giving me this much hell. and i think all the wiring stayed the same up until like 85, when they changed the cars over to efi.

[rmodel65]

the neutral starting switch will keep the engine from turning over..... 

[fordman1985]

ok, now my t5 is out of an 88, and the plug for the neutral safety switch is different on the car. what do i do about that? would that switch have anything to do with my coil not getting power? is that in the same circuit?

[rmodel65]

on the fox bodies there is a plug that goes on the clutch pedal if you unplug that you can jump it(the auto cars had a little plug in that jumped it) and by pass the neutral safety switch...

[fordman1985]

the car was an automatic car originally. does that help? ive tried to jump it from under neath the car, and i heard some noise coming from near the solenoid, but when i tried to turn the key over, i still got nothing....its driving me nuts man.

[fordman1985]

i got it running!!!! i had to make a jumper wire for the neutral switch, and i had the wire harness from a truck....ffound a mustang in a junk yard, plucked the wire harness, and a few other parts (didnt know the headlight bezels are different between mustangs and capris) and it fired right up. now i think im having a problem with my ignition switch....my car wont fire until my key turns back....thanks for the help tho guys.

[rmodel65]

there was a recall on the ignition switches back in the day...i dunno if its still a valid recall(meaning ford will pay for parts) but an ignition switch is pretty cheap

[fordman1985]

yeah, i got a complete steering column out of my 88, that still has the ign. switch on it, so i think im good.

[fordman1985]

is that ur 65 in the pic?

[rmodel65]

no i have a 65 fastback though