And the drama continued today. I got the fridge loaded, truck packed, trailer hooked up, wife, toddler and 4 dogs onboard, and we're off. Make a pit stop in town at the grocery store for some last minute items. When we go to leave the same electrical issue again...getting frustrated by now.
All my diagnostics are telling me that I cannot utilize either the toyota ignition wire or the starter solenoid output to trigger the fuel shutoff relay...just not enough juice on either when cranking the starter over.
I also noticed that I now have a blown fuel shutoff solenoid, it won't pull up even when wired directly to battery.
I manually pulled the plunger up, fire up the motor and headed back home to put a new plan into action.
I had a spare shutoff solenoid sitting in the garage from another 6BT that I have. I bench tested it...works well. I pulled out the blown shutoff and put the spare on.
I knew I needed to completely separate the two circuits to get around the low voltage issue, without time to figure out if there are any other factory circuits that only get power when cranking, I decided to go with the helicopter ignition setup.
The two ford solenoids are now two distinct circuits, the one for the fuel shutoff is now getting triggered by a momentary switch that I placed in the blank where the magic dial would be on an OEM locker equipped 80.
This setup works well and the truck fires right up. I turn the key to ON, hit the momentary switch which pulls the shutoff plunger up, then turn the key to start to crank the starter. This makes for a nice anti-theft device.
By the time I was all done, it was too late to drive 1.5hrs to drop 2 dogs at the in-laws and then drive 2.5 hrs to Coal Mine Cruiser Classic. Instead I drove 2hrs round trip to drop off the pups, and we will head out to CMCC tomorrow AM.
I put about 80 miles on the truck tonight, it hauls arse. Coming home tonight, pulling up a long grade that I usually can't get above 50, I was able to stomp on it and continuously accelerate up the hill. I let off the throttle when I hit 85 on the speedo (which I assume is, closer to 95 with the 37's.) I noted the guages as I hit 85 (95) going up hill. 26lbs of boost and 1050 degrees EGT's. I am pretty happy with that.
The Honda Accord who was trying desperately to pass me on that hill was unsuccessful in his attempt...such a strange feeling.