Having had nothing but trouble with my compact starter, I decided to switch back to the recommended starter for my ZZ4 engine.  I originally had an old starter from a 1964 Nova.

I've got the new starter but it comes with more terminals than my compact starter that I had been using for several years. 

Now I can't get the new starter to even engage the solenoid.  So there's supposed to be a yellow, purple and black as well as the heavy battery cable coming in.

Can anyone tell me where the yellow and  purple ultimately connect to on the other end?  The PO did a job on the wiring when the engine swap was made.  Or is there someway to diagnose if these wires have the correct voltages?

Yes I have the wiring diagrams, but all they show is where the wire connect to the firewall to ignition block:  where is that anyway?

Jim

Just had an epiphany while staring at my Dr Rebuild wiring diagrams.  Both the ignition harness and headlight harness plug into the Grid Firewall connector.  This will allow me to trace the wires to their ultimate source.

Can someone tell me where that Connector is located?

 Purple wire will ALWAYS go on the terminal closest to the engine block, or the inside terminal. The yellow wire will go on the smaller outside terminal, or the one closer to the fender of the car.
Purple is the "Start" signal from the ignition switch. The yellow wire is the full 12v source to the ignition coil when starting. Once the engine starts, and the key is released, the coil gets voltage thru a resistor wire that drops the voltage down to around 6-9v.
The black wire should be a ground. Does it have a large eyelet on it? If so, then it will go to one of the bellhousing bolts.

The firewall pass-thru connector is under the brake booster/master cylinder.

|UPDATED|3/3/2016 10:50:02 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Thanks Joel.  No wonder I couldn't find the connector.  I never thought to look there.  As far as the purple and yellow wires, I've got red ones.  PO cut the old ones.  We'll see, back at it today.

The purple wire(or what should be the purple wire) will be a larger diameter than the yellow or black wire.
You can check which is which with a voltmeter, or test light. With the key in the "Start" position, then wire with voltage will be the purple wire, or the one you want to put on the inside terminal, closest to the engine block. The yellow wire will not have any voltage to it at all. It will only have voltage when connected to the outside terminal of the solenoid, and the starter cranking.

|UPDATED|3/3/2016 11:28:37 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Joel, if I jump from the main battery connection on the starter to the solenoid connection closest to the block (purple connection) should the starter spin?  I have the spark and coil wires disconnected.  Reason for the test is I want to make sure the starter and solenoid are good before the header is replaced.

Thanks,
Jim

Yes...jumping from the battery connection to the inner terminal on the solenoid will engage and spin the starter motor.