Classic/Antique Car Repair: 1967 Oldsmobile starter, oldsmobile delta 88, starter solenoid

Question
I have a 1967 Oldsmobile Delta 88 convertible with a 425 ci
engine.  The battery is good, but when I try to start the car, the
soleniod "clicks" but the starter won't crank.  Sometimes, if I turn
the ignition key rapidly 5 or 6 times the starter will crank.  Is this
more likely a bad starter or bad soleniod?  How hard is it to
replace either of these parts?  Thanks for your help.

Answer
It could actually be either item, but the solenoid is the more likely cause.  However, on this car, the solenoid is mounted on the starter, so you have to remove the whole assembly to get at either one.

My advice is to remove the solenoid/stater unit as an assembly and take it to a rebuilder to be checked.  If you don't have an old fashioned starter/generator rebuilder in your town (they're getting to be harder and harder to find), take the unit, still in one piece, to your local auto parts place and have them match it to a rebuilt unit.  If you're lucky, they'll have one for you the next day. If you're unlucky, they'll have to send yours out for rebuild, but either way, it should solve your problem.  If you take it to AutoZone, they will probably test it for you, and they also probably have the best prices on the rebuilt.  

NAPA stores tend to be more expensive, but they also have better rebuilders - your choice.

Removing the starter/solenoid unit isn't difficult, but you do need to get the car high enough to work under it.  You must have safe jackstands - and don't trust cinder blocks!  Disconnect the battery and slither under there with rags and WD-40 to use as a cleaning spray, so you can clean off all the bolts and electrical terminals.  Take a good light with you, and wear eye protection, because you will get all kinds of gritty crud in your face.  Have fun! (we're in this hobby is because we enjoy this sort of thing, right?).

Take the wires off one by one, and mark them with masking tape as to which terminal they go on, then unbolt the starter from the engine and slide it forward until you can drop it down and out of the maze of exhaust pipes, suspension parts and the like.  It is very heavy (like 40# or so) so be prepared to grunt and cuss while you figure out how to snake it out through all the stuff that is in its way. I think they made these cars by sending the starter down the assembly line, then each work station bolted more stuff onto it until they had a whole car!


Good Luck

Dick