Check your ground wire before you buy a starter.

 

Have you tryed to jump it directly to the starter. The bindex could be stuck.

 

when you get it going everytime with a screwdriver, then the starter should be ok

so when you jump it do you connect the battery connection on selonoid (far left/big) to the starter connection (far right/big) or do you connect it from battery connection (far left/big) to the 'S' port.

if you use the latter (s-port) and it works nicely for you then the problem is ignition switch or neutral safety switch, but not selonoid or starter.

but as what cmanf says, you might just have an irratic ground issue. check that the engine and chassis are getting proper ground. and the starter selonoid where it mounts to fender.

what worries me is that you say you hear a click. if you do hear it, then you seem to actuuate the selonoid. so let us know what the story is).

Further I've seen at least two cars (mine and two on this forum) that had the cable coming from selonoid at starter mounted so close to the starter housing that it would ground out there occasionally. make sure that the ring terminal is not touching (or close to) the starter housing

 

+1 check cables and grounds.
I have been having this same issue lately. I would notice that after the click (and sometimes a small puff of smoke) I had no interior lights. Battery cables are old and loose so a quick twist on the positive terminal fixes it every time. I now have new cables (not installed yet) that hopefully will fix it.

 

Was Huggy Bear the previous owner of your car?

 

Well itsa 66 thank you for saving that car from the world of "poorly pimp my ride"!

 

LOL you guys are crackin' me up, seriously! I don't want to hijack this thread, but it's so true! It's baffling what some people will randomly do to a classic. Maybe shameful would be a better word in this case. My plans call for a somehwat stock appearing nice driver. The plan is moving forward!!!

 

All wires appear to be good. I may be replacing the starter soon. I've never been positive for which replacements are acceptable. I've been told that certain V-8 styles will go on my '66 I-6. You guys tell me. It's the 3 bolt mount style, you tell me if it's a 'high' mount or 'low' mount:

http://i41.tinypic.com/2i701dz.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/k13yw9.jpg

I'd like a mini and/or high torque starter if possible.