voltage drop on battery cable? cranking voltage at starter? its possible that there is a bad ignition switch, especially being an older ford, but a few quick tests with a DVOM will yield much faster results.
Originally Posted by
MAD_DOHC
Mine did this too.
There is an iginition switch bolted to the steering column. It's under the dash and easy to get too. When you turn the key, it pushes a rod that makes the contact on this switch to turn the starter over. Sometimes, over time, this switch moves down some and can't make full contact. You'll have to play with it for a little while to see what is the best position, it's only two bolts holding it on.
Check your starter solenoid on the fenderwall too. Have you tried crossing these terminals to see if it will turn over that way?
its actually the actuator cracked when that happens, i do quite a few of them on a regular basis. the acutator is made of pot metal, and cracks on the guide shaft. there are a lot of people that are scared or dont know how to tear down the column, so they dick rig a seperate switch. makes them feel like they are driving a race car......