My '78 died at my son's house yesterday.  After removing starter and solunoid and having it tested, it's good.  I've checked and have 12V at the solunoid, but when the key is turned to start, the generator, the battery, and the brake lights go out or dim, and the volt meter drops to below 8V, and the solunoid does not click in.  I used a volt meter to check the voltage from the battery to the "S" post, and I get about a 2V drop to around 10V when the key is turned to start.  All of the lights, horn, guages, electric windows, etc. work fine.  Other changes that have been made/come about lately are a new HEI distributor.  I have noticed a couple of times since the new distributor that I've, for a split second or so, lost power going down the road.  The tach will drop to zeros for a second, the car will jump as it restarts.  This happened 2 or 3 times now, but it only lasts for a split second.  I don't know if that could or would be related, but it is a problem I will need answers to, also. 

 

Any help or ideas would be appreciated.  I've searched on this site for similar problems and found no specific answers that are the same as my situation.

 

Thanks guys.  I know you'll come through.

 

Chuckster

 

average battery "voltage" when under load(turning the starter) should be around 10-11v(about a 150 amp load)  try checking the voltage at the battery.  After re-reading your post, saying it goes to 8 volts, it does sound more and more like a battery issue....

    I'll get the battery checked tomorrow. I don't drive this baby enough to remember for sure but I think that the Voltmeter always goes down to 8 or less volts when I turn the key to start. Thanks for the ideas man.

 

   DNV:  I'll check the big cable going to the starter center lug too. I had all the wires to the starter and the starter off a month ago to put a set of LT1 S/S headers on, I try to check all things like that when I put things back together, but at my age, sometimes I miss doing the obvious. Thanks for reminding me.

 

 

 

It is often temp sensitive, and moisture sensitive.  Often you can grab this short cable and give it a twist.  In that case you can just tighten it up.  Best to take it loose and clean the surfaces, then retighten.