1987 Ford F150 4.9l inline 6 engine 2WD with 4 speed manual transmission

Drove home from work fine, no whining noise or grinding like maybe from a worn out bearing or something, went out the next day pushed clutch in and turn the key and just nothing but a click. I've replaced the starter solenoid and the starter itself and still get the same result - starter not engaging. Fuses are not blown and confirmed power to the starter. Battery is brand new and has correct voltage, new Motorcraft alternator as well. Any idea what I should be looking for from here? I tried roll starting it and it fired right up run just fine, just won't start on its own. It's almost like something of the engine itself is frozen and the starter isn't powerful enough to turn it.

If anymore details just ask I can give as much info as I can.

Thanks in advance!

 

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Clean up ALL positive and ground connections. Connect a volt meter on the starter and have a helper crank the engine.What you get there will determine which direction to go in. Measuring voltage without cranking (loaded) doesn't tell much. You ruled out a locked up engine when you push started it.

 

Does is start up if you jump the solenoid?

 

Late but here's an update:

I've checked and cleaned all terminals / connections, no luck with that so pulled the wiring from the solenoid to starter wire and ground from the battery to transmission to check for any issues. Replaced both of those as well as the positive from the battery to the solenoid. Still no luck with that. Seems to be something is frying the solenoid. I switched out the original with a new one, it would click with no starting results then eventually quit clicking altogether. Went on to a third solenoid getting the same results, clicking without starting then no clicking. I've tried connecting to the starter with it attached to the flywheel housing and with it resting aside thinking maybe the flywheel is frozen and neither showed results. I'm going to have both the new and old starter tomorrow to have them checked. I did have someone help with testing the starter voltage and it was below 12v, what direction would that tell me to go? Really stumped here. Yes, I did also try jumping the solenoid.

 

You keep replacing solenoids and did you actually take 30 seconds to see if the engine rotates????? No starter is going to spin a frozen engine. If you can spin it, get your starter and battery tested. New means nothing. Also, what I did is run an additional heavy welding cable I made from the block to one of the starter mounting bolts. Any resistance with either the ground or positive leg will give you problems.I can not tell from your descriptions if you tried jumping the battery side of the solenoid to the other heavy cable going down to the starter. What happens???