Starters, mini starters, might want to check this out.

[lyrikz]

I just kind of stumbled upon this. I dont know if its new news or im just a late bloomer. I have a chevy 454. Its from an 81 chevy. The starter that came with it is huge. My headers literally touched my starter.

I was in the market for a mini torque starter and came across this. Its a starter from a newer chevy. Pt#6944. I took pictures and weights.

This is the factory original starter with 2 starts on it. ahah I bought it brand new. I just realized that it wont last long with my headers.. Here we go.

Starter#1. Starter weights 20 lbs, is fargin HUGE. Bought 95 bucks. It fits 1981 and on 454s from what i heard.


Here is starter #2. As you can see, HUGE difference in weight. This fits my 454 also.


7lbs. Its a magnetic type and supposedly has more torque then the huge original one. Its about 95 bucks also.

Side by side comparison


Anyways, it now clears my headers VERY nicely and im going to make a little heat shield for it to extend the life of it also.... Just i have never seen this and figured if i could help at least one person by my post, why not....

[sleepertruck72]

Im glad to see you found out about it ! I got one on my small block. Just dont forget the heat shield. Those mini starters are alot easier to put in and take out compared to the bulky heavy stock ones

[hchad18]

Where did you get it at?

[BossHogg69]

where'd you get that/what manufacturer is that part # from?

Good find!! thanks for the info!

[Jim_PA]

Better double check me, but I am pretty sure you need some conversion bolts to use that starter, or you risk cracking the block at the starter bolt holes. A friend of mine had this happen to him with his beefy 383, and I am pretty sure it boiled down to the fact that he used the original starter bolts with an 89+ starter.

I am installing one tomorrow, don't know the part number, but I got the starter and the supposed "conversion bolts" for $115.00. If I find out more info, I'll post it here. They are great starters, and call me queer, but they sound pretty cool too

[Jim_PA]

Ahhh!!! BINGO FOUND IT!! P

Quoted from https://www.s10v8.com/showthread.php?t=1073758867

When Chevy switched to metric starter bolts they also changed the starter just a little bit. They made the holes in the starter just a little bigger for the metric bolts to go through. The 10 mm bolts are a little bigger than the old 3/8" Bolts. On this same note, if you get a metric starter and put it on a block that uses 3/8" bolts you will have excessive slop between the bolts and the starters bolt hole walls. This lets the starter move around a bit and could cause them to grind a little requiring excessive shimming to correct it. If you vehicle started fine the first few times and then started grinding for now reason, this was probably why.

[Alan's Classic]

Great info here

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by Jim_PA

Better double check me, but I am pretty sure you need some conversion bolts to use that starter, or you risk cracking the block at the starter bolt holes. A friend of mine had this happen to him with his beefy 383, and I am pretty sure it boiled down to the fact that he used the original starter bolts with an 89+ starter.

I am installing one tomorrow, don't know the part number, but I got the starter and the supposed "conversion bolts" for $115.00. If I find out more info, I'll post it here. They are great starters, and call me queer, but they sound pretty cool too

Originally Posted by Jim_PA

Ahhh!!! BINGO FOUND IT!! P

Quoted from https://www.s10v8.com/showthread.php?t=1073758867

That information isnt truely correct. In the middle 1980s and earlier they were standard bolts and hole sizes. Just after the middle 1980's chevy switched to metric. You need to check the year on the block to be sure.. These will bolt up fine to a 1981 and later. IF YOU USE THE CORRECT BOLTS.

[eightbanger]

Skip White sells em on Ebay.....
http://search.stores.ebay.com/whitep...354947QQsofpZ0

[FRENCHBLUE72]

Where would one moron go go find the starter and bolts?

[Jim_PA]

Well, I got mine from Lancaster Starter and Alternator http://www.lancasterstarterandalternator.com, but what you need is starter bolts with a 3/8 thread, and a 10MM shank...

I can only assume that if you called, they could ship the starter and bolts to you.

[sleepertruck72]

If you have a GMPP nearby check with them. I bought my mini starter from them and it came with the different bolts and they worked perfect. I dont remember how much I paid, but it sounds about right to what Lyrikz said about $95

[Jim_PA]

Installed my starter tonight.... Man, I wish I would have put one on from the start, but like usual, I was being a cheap-ass, and saved $30 when I assembled the thing.

Music to my ears

[kelsfine69]

I tried this swap not long ago and found that the starter bolt are too long also, they wont work at all.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by kelsfine69

I tried this swap not long ago and found that the starter bolt are too long also, they wont work at all.

Yes, that depends on the year of your block. WIth my year my bolts fit fine...

One thing that should be mentioned to anyone doing it, is make sure you match up the bolts. Make sure they come out of the starterthe same distance on both starters....

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by Jim_PA

Installed my starter tonight.... Man, I wish I would have put one on from the start, but like usual, I was being a cheap-ass, and saved $30 when I assembled the thing.

Music to my ears

Man, i installed the starter way back when i posted this. I ordered new bolts that fit correctly and then just left the starter in. I went to start the truck today, and PHWWINNNNG is what i get. ahaha The starter isnt engaging the flywheel. I have the correct bolts, i wonder what im missing... Im thinking of just returning this starter and picking up a skip white one.... For some reason they dont sell the red or chrome ones anymore... Guess i will wait until tuesday to order that up.

[stellar]

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[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by stellar

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[kevncar]

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[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by kevncar

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I have a bit more info.... So basically it doesnt matter the size of the gear on the starter... You just need the correct length and thickness of bolt, then you may have to shim the starter a bit... I have the shims and will update later tonight to see how this works.... I should of known that just bolting it in and starting wasnt going to happen.

[kelsfine69]

If I go to a wrecker and pull the bolts from a mini starter they should work then? I think You need a trans inpection cover as well since the starter nose is different.

[stellar]

You can't interchange the gears cuz we are talking apples and oranges. The whole starter is interchangeable. I have replaced many big 10MT starters with the mini and have NEVER had to shim one. Maybe the extra work is worth it so you can use the good stuff. Shim away. Shims are for misfits and engineering mistakes. It is not your starter guys fault.

[lyrikz]

Originally Posted by stellar

You can't interchange the gears cuz we are talking apples and oranges. The whole starter is interchangeable. I have replaced many big 10MT starters with the mini and have NEVER had to shim one. Maybe the extra work is worth it so you can use the good stuff. Shim away. Shims are for misfits and engineering mistakes. It is not your starter guys fault.

I thought when you first said interchange you meant swap the gears. My misunderstanding. I called my starter guy after 3 shims wouldnt do it. You being a starter guy what he said next might make sense. Occasinally you will get chinese noses on these things. He asked if i had numbers on the nose cone of mine. There were no numbers on the cone so he said it had a chinese cone. SOO, im grabbin the other one i have in stock tomorrow to see if its different...
Any of this makes sense??

[MrBlue]

Greetings,
I have found that our starter is bolted though the bellhousing. Therefore is it possible to install the mini staggered bolt design?
Thanks
MrBLue

[stellar]

yes, i'm sure your starter guy can figure it out. If the big starter worked without shims then a small one should also. you may want to shim only one side and see what happens. shimming one side will move the gear closer to the center of the flywheel and shimming only the other side will move the starter gear farther away. Not all chineese parts are inferior. Some are of excellent quality and some are junk. I would like to say all chinees stuff is junk, but it wouldn't be true. Just because something is manufactured in China doesn't mean the quality control is suspect. American companies manufacture in China and the parts must still meet specifications. The labor costs are lower there, but if fuel and shipping costs continue to rise I think some of the US manufacturers will start comming home again. Talk to your rebuilder. Not only can he make sure you get a quality part he also has a vast storehouse of knowledge. Sometimes quality costs a little more but it usually only costs more once instead of constantly and causing more damage to other parts costing again, not to mention time. Support your local rebuilder or the only parts left will be the cheap stuff from the big box stores and when the competition is gone the low quality stuff will increase in price. You will also have an experienced ear locally to talk or complain to. Even some of the big catalog companies are selling poor quality parts at inflated prices. Good luck with your starter. Mark