mgb 76,
I did your tests, I removed the battery, and even though it is a much smaller battery that the one in my truck, after a couple tries, it did start my truck up. so, the battery must be good. I cleaned the terminals, took the ground wire off the car and cleaned it and the area it was bolted to. reinstalled the battery, took the ground strap off and cleaned it up as well as where it gets attached to, cleaned up the possitive battery cable end where it attaches to the solenoid and reconnected it there. tried to hotwire the starter/solenoid...just a spark. I did not reconnect the other 3 possitive connections that come off of the solenoid( the other brown wires) that way I was just working with the starter/solenoid and didn't have to worry about anything else making noises.
I am begining to think that we are focusing on the wrong thing here. I am going to take my battery up to auto zone tomorow and have it checked, though, I still think it is good. Just want to rule it out once and for all. But, if it isn't the ground and it isn't the battery...what else could it be? What else could be causing a problem like this? even grounding the solenoid directly the the negative battery terminal (whether it ti the battery in the MG or in my truck) it is not helping. Though, it will work in this way when it is out of the car and on the bench. The engine is not froze up either, I have turned the bolt on front and the flywheel turns.
thanks,
joel
1976 MGB with a 1977 engine