I was going to start up my new engine today, but when I went to hook up the negative battery cable the engine began turning over . I don't have any idea why the starter would always be engaged, does anyone have any idea? This was a V6 to V8 swap, so it's possible I messed up the wiring somehow. Thanks for any help

The starter circuit is bypassing both the ignition switch AND the clutch safety switch.... Could I have screwed up that bad? Everyone who has looked at it is as confused as me, including my shop instructor.

Does your shop instructor know nothing about electricity?

If you disconnect the purple wire (cranking wire) from the starter solenoid, does it still crank when you reconnect the battery cable?

If so, check the wiring on the big posts on the starter solenoid. Actually, why not remove ALL wires besides the main red thick cable from the battery. If it still cranks, it's likely bad starter solenoid with a shorted contact plate.

Also, make sure that you don't have any cables touching that are not supposed to touch. When tightening the nuts on the posts, it's not hard to have the wires turn a little and touch.

Hope this helps.
Lou

The car is at school and I'm at home, so I can't actually try anything right now.

First thing I checked for when it acted up were touching wires. I moved them as far apart as was possible, no change.

IIRC, I had the main positive battery cable and the red wires with 3 fusible links (ignition I believe) on the positive terminal, and the negative was well grounded.

I suppose I will see what happens without the different cables. I have a hard time believing it's a bad starter, since it's brand new, but I guess I'll find out. Thanks Lou!

Negative terminal grounded? There's no negative terminal on the starter. Or did I misunderstand?

Lou

Oh, so the starter is grounded only through contact with the engine block?

Correct me if I am wrong, but this is what I think I need:
-Main positive battery cable to the starter
-Switched ignition to the starter (Is this purple by any chance?)

I had a wire with 3 fusible links leading into one terminal which I assumed was the ignition, since it was red and had the fusible links like every other starter I remember working on. Is this throwing me off?

Yes, main positive cable from the battery to the starter solenoid.
Yup, the starter is grounded through the block.
The switched ignition starter wire is purple, you're right.
The wires with fusible links are what supplies power from the battery cable (on the same post) to the vehicle. For the vehicle to have power, they need to be attached to the same post on the solenoid where the main battery cable is.

Lou

Thanks Lou, I'm pretty sure I know what went wrong now.

The ignition is going to be purple on both V6 and V8 models, right?

Thanks again!

It better!
If the colors are faded, it should be the only wire without a fusible link down there.

Lou