Test Starter Setup

Do you want to start your engine up while it's sitting on the floor ?.....Bruce

No, it's in the car. Just haven't finished the wiring yet.

Peter McEwan and I wired up a second ignition switch, key and all, in his engine bay way up on the passenger side of the firewall - I think it was just a universal ignition switch and key from NAPA or something.  

All we did was wire it in parallel with the regular ignition switch.  

Put in the key, turn it to start and work the throttle linkage with your hand.  The wires were hidden behind the firewall (and hard to get at from below) and if it wasn't pointed out (all that showed was the barrel and key slot) you wouldn't notice it.  Food for thought.

Has anyone answered his question yet?  I'll try...

You need 12v to the starter when the key is turned and 12v keyed constant to the coil. This wire is BLACK on my car. Ground the chassis. You have your green wire to the oil pressure light (not necessary to start the motor). There is a blue wire to the case of the generator (not necessary to start the motor) that I think goes to the charging light.  Without the two idiot lights wired up, your charging system will not function properly.

Do you have points/condenser/voltage regulator? Or electronic ignition?

Ted 

Or, if you want to be TRULY cheap, just use the existing ignition key for the ignition and put it in the "on" (not start) position to be ready for the engine to run.  

If you get under the car and find the starter, there is a big, honkin wire going to it (as big around as your pinky finger) with one or two more wires to that same big terminal, and another, small, 14 ga wire attached to a 1/4" fast-on tab right next to it.  That big terminal gets +12V all the time from the battery and alternatif.  The Fast-on gets +12V from the starter dire on the ignition switch (which is why some starters are "week" - too much résistance in the switch/wire, which doesn't provide enough voltage to the solenoid to hold it engaged).

If you apply ANY +12V to that small fast-on terminal, the solenoid will engage and the starter motor will turn over.   All you need is a switch to get 12V from the big terminal and apply it to the Fast-on tab and, Violá!  The thing turns over.