so yea.... i heard that changing the starter on a 76 302 was a nightmare but i had no idea....
so i took of the backet you have to take off just to get to the bolts to the starter... couldnt do it on first attempt... its not like those bolts are covered with 30 years of rust or nething!!! i was like yay, i thought THAT was the hard part... and then i found out what awaited....
remove engine mounts? rack and pinion???? WTF! im not even sure if the starter is the problem!!!!! HAHA so can anyone tell me which method is easier, sounds like the rack and pinion would be if its just 2 bolts and it swings down...
Remove the passenger side motor mount, then you can "slide" the starter towards the front end and out of its "HOLE"! I used an old scrap piece of 2x4 across the oil pan with my jack to hold the engine up and to get the motor mount out. It isn't easy - at all, no part of it is easy but it's what us II's have to deal with.
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Wayne '78 Mustang II '99 Eddie Bauer Expedition '08 Limited Expedition Smithfield, VA
i decided to go the steering route... i took off those 2 huge bolts in the middle and removed the cotter pin and nut on the passenger side... now i was under the impression that once that nut was removed that side of the rack was just going to slide down??? it still doesnt budge, did i forget to do something?
the front end is up on ramps... could maybe this be causing something to be hitting something else... i did get it to come down a little on the passenger side but not too much on the drivers side due to it being connected to the steering colume im assuming?
I never entertained the idea of removing the rack to replace the starter. When I replaced mine a couple of years ago, I googled "stater replacement Mustang II" and found a link that told gave dealer instructions on the starter replacement for II's. It only talked about removing the motor mount, no talk of removing the rack. Me thinks you may have unbolted stuff just for the sake of saying you have unbolted it. I haven't really paid that much attention to the rack/starter locations. If my memory serves me correct, I think my starter was too wide to slide down past the frame and oil pan? I'll have to take a closer look this evening when I get home. If I were you, I'd say screw it, bolt it back up and remove the motor mount. I know for a FACT that it works that way.....
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Wayne '78 Mustang II '99 Eddie Bauer Expedition '08 Limited Expedition Smithfield, VA
haha... i seem to do alot of doing things just to say i did them with my 2 stang 2s!!! neways, with a combo of rack n motor mount i managed to squeeze the old one out and the new one in. looks nice under there.... new starter, new alt. new way to expensive aptima bat.... but it still wont start without a jump from something else! and once its started, and i turn it off all i get is a buzzing/ grinding sound! my best guess is a short some where... but i have no idea where.... or maybe something in the starting cycle... maybe that wireless ignition coil thingy?? idk im out of ideas... do you guys have any???
WOW....I guess I would try replacing the battery cables and starter solenoid. I would think that if the cables were bad you wouldn't be able to jump it either. Same for the solenoid. But at this point, I'm out of ideas. I figured it would of been the starter. Somethings stopping you from getting enough juice to the starter....bad ground? You may have an intermittent ignition issue. Weird thing there is it decides to work when you attempt to jump it though. Are you certain that your new battery has a full charge? Put it on a charger for a few hours then give it another try. I've bought "New" batteries in the past that needed to be charged. You have no way of knowing how long that battery has been sitting on the rack at the auto parts store. Also, try "jiggling" your key while it's in the ignition switch, you may have a short in the ignition switch, then try to start it agin. WTF, at this point try anything! LOL! Good luck.
I hope to be firing mine up this weekend. Prolly Sunday, bad bad weather in the forecast for Friday and Saturday here. Just got my gas tank/fuel lines and hoses finished off last night. Gonna prime the engine, get my new dizzy lined up and put some juice to that new fresh 302! Hope I haven't forgotten anything!
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Wayne '78 Mustang II '99 Eddie Bauer Expedition '08 Limited Expedition Smithfield, VA
yea i just replaced the starter relay last night with no luck but its funny that you mention the short being in the ignition swith because i notice every once in a while when im turning the key back to the accesory position it "jumps" a little.... you know like cranks once n then stops.... i never thought of that!! also do you know where the neg cable is supposed to be grounded to? block or somewheres else?
I had a '75 V8 car and replaced the starter [probably been 15 years] I removed the right side motor mount,jacked up the engine with a jack and block of wood. Jack it up high enough to slide starter forward and out. It sounds harder than it is. The grinding noise you hear maybe the bendix drive . Old Ford starters did stick 'on and engaged.'
thanks guys!!! starter changed, new starter relay, and by the grace of god it runs like a champ...a champ with no exhaust, cracked windshield, dented fenders... well u get the idea... but the important thing is that it runs!!! now i have to canabilize my 74 for parts to fix this get this one in tip top shape...so next question.. does anyone know if a windshield from a 74 will fit a 76 ghia??? also i was thinking of swapping seats althought im sure those will fit....
I can't answer your question from experience but if no one has a definite answer to your question,I can get in touch with the guy that installs glass for us. May take a day or so for an answer. As to parts from '74 to '75 and later, Ford enlarged the grille opening area when they put a V8 in for '75 so some things may not fit. Are both cars Ghia's or is one a fastback? How about tinted or not?
the 76 302 is a ghia... the 74 2.3 isnt if i remember correctly. all im really worried about is the windshield... i plan on doing the paint and interior myself soon also. i plan on hitting up J.C.Wittney for carpet unless anyone else can suggest a better place... also if anyone needs or knows of anyone who needs anything off a 74 let me know... i plan on saving as much as possible off it... (glass ect.)
I will see if I can turn anything up at work, we are not an auto shop but repair company owned trucks and pick ups mostly. I repair their constuction equipment. We do have lots of books,NAPA some dealer stuff etc. can't promise anything but . I just had a thought, there is a publication called Hollander's that junk yards use that tell what fits what! I may very well be online.
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starter removal.....ugh!!! - 
I never entertained the idea of removing the rack to replace the starter. When I replaced mine a couple of years ago, I googled "stater replacement Mustang II" and found a link that told gave dealer instructions on the starter replacement for II's. It only talked about removing the motor mount, no talk of removing the rack. Me thinks you may have unbolted stuff just for the sake of saying you have unbolted it.
