Found it - positive battery terminal wires. The wires clamped to the terminal were corroded under the clamp, looked fine from the outstide, good call. 3 years ago, it was a corroded negative ground strap, very different symptoms - voltage meter pegged at max then.
So, the electric does indeed shut down if amperage isn't adequate, that threw me a bit, important to know.
Don't mind having replaced the starter. Original starter had 160K on it, and was going. We recently installed a rebuilt engine, so committed to keeping it on the road for a while (the common blown head gasket, cracked head, worn main bearings, and low oil pressure, milked another 2 years out of it before it died).
Thanks very much!
Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 AT 9:54 PM