I think that i have just eliminated all of our grief so far. I took the starter out of the car again today to bench test it again. Couldn't get ANYTHING out of it except a weak spark. I then bench tested the other starter/solenoid again(the one that autozone told me a couple years back was no good and it was working great. the gear slid over and stayed spinning very fast so long as I kept the hot lead to the terminals. So I installed this old one back into the car and...It is now turning the engine when I try to start it. Though, it won't start, I am FINALLY making some progress. At this piont I am not getting a spark from the coil wire at the distributor. Test lamp lights up at the positive side of the coil. the negative side turns on in the run position and dimms in the start position(it should turn on and off, right?) So, I will continue my tests and keep all of you updated on my progress and also watch for your continued support. thank you all for your help so far. I am not ruling out the possibiliyt of still having starter problems again in the furure either. just last week, this starter was not working properly on the bench either. cross your fingers for me.
joel
1976 MGB with a 1977 engine