I just read the rest of this thread and thought I'd add my last two cents on this one. I really don't think the starter could have been mounted with the solenoid on top. It was all I could do to get my hand up there to feel the top bolt on this thing. If we had tried to mount it with the solenoid on top, the exhaust manifold, or something else that was REALLY hot would have been in the way.

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Mike

'80 300D
'84 300D
'85 300D
'87 300D