Starter help please!!! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

GMCjunkie · 07-31-2010, 10:17 AM

Hey yall, not long ago I asked for info for installing the shims for my starter. I had someone put a brand new starter on my truck, not long after I got it back it was making that horrible grinding noise. I got the shims and today I dropped the starter, as I suspected, no shims were installed with the starter. but, when I got the starter down where I could see it, I see what looks like a big crack in it. Im not real familiar with the starter, fact is I havent touched my truck in almost 3 years. can someone tell me if this starter is toast or ?

Thank You!

71GMCinTN · 07-31-2010, 10:43 AM

Mine cracked like that, but into two pieces. If you had another old starter, it's real easy to change the housing.

junkyardjohn · 07-31-2010, 10:48 AM

YEP... SORRY JODIE.. IT'S NFG. I WOULD DEFINATLY GO BACK TO THE INSTALLER (IF YOU PAID A SHOP TO DO IT) & I'M SURE THEY'LL STAND BEHIND IT. IF YOU REPLACE IT YOURSELF (YOU CAN SEE) IT'S A SIMPLE 15 MINUTE JOB... TWO BOLTS & TWO WIRES. 99% OF THE TIME YOU DONT NEED ANY SHIMS.

JOHN

Shyguy · 07-31-2010, 12:12 PM

I have been working on cars and trucks for many moons, lol, and have never had to use shims when replacing starters as long as I did not go with the aftermarket high torque ones.

I may have been just lucky, though.

GMCjunkie · 07-31-2010, 03:54 PM

Thanks guys. Just went and got a replacement, as I said the cracked one was new, not even 50 miles on it. The guy at Napa, (older guy I really trust, been goin there for years) said to go ahead and shim it, that it couldnt hurt. Had to go back to Valdosta ga to get it, was beautiful (but hottern 400 h3lls). Just got back to Fl, rainin like a big dawg, lol....so wait it out I reckon,

Thanks again guys,
wish some of yall lived closer, truck buddies are awsome

take care
junk

rusty baker · 07-31-2010, 04:18 PM

Never put a shim in a inline 6 or v-8, but those v-6's all seem to need shims.

GMCjunkie · 07-31-2010, 05:02 PM

ok... wasnt raining UNDER my truck..lol. Starter is in. now battery is dead. Brand new battery too, it had only been sitting about a week and a half. I can exchange the battrey no prob. but why would it be dead already? any ideas?

rusty baker · 07-31-2010, 05:55 PM

Short?

Field and Son · 07-31-2010, 06:43 PM

I put a new starter in mine-lasted a few months and started that grinding thing. Pulled it out, threw it away and put an old one on from a junk yard. Just seems that more and more, the new parts are crap.

Hubscrub · 07-31-2010, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Field and Son

I put a new starter in mine-lasted a few months and started that grinding thing. Pulled it out, threw it away and put an old one on from a junk yard. Just seems that more and more, the new parts are crap.

right, thats why if you find a good quiet starter or have one already, when it needs service i always carry mine to a rebuilder, same with alternators i have had some that worked better than they did new

71longbed-brew · 08-01-2010, 12:14 AM

double check your timing .. i've heard too much advance can put alot of strain on the nose

**truckdude239** · 08-01-2010, 08:15 AM

start with one shim you could have a bad altentar pulling off the battery while not running

junkyardjohn · 08-01-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMCjunkie

ok... wasnt raining UNDER my truck..lol. Starter is in. now battery is dead. Brand new battery too, it had only been sitting about a week and a half. I can exchange the battrey no prob. but why would it be dead already? any ideas?

HI JODIE.. YOUR BATTERY MIGHT JUST NEED RECHARGING. YOUR BAD STARTER MIGHT HAVE HAD A DEAD SHORT CAUSING A DRAIN ON YOUR BATTERY. YOUR BURB IS PROBABLY JUST SCREAMING FOR SOME ATTENTION (JUST LIKE A KID OR A DOG

). THEN EITHER CHECK YOUR VOLTAGE OUTPUT WITH A VOLTMETER, OR WHEN IT'S RUNNING, TAKE EITHER CABLE (POS. OR NEG.) OFF YOUR BATTERY POST. YOUR ALTERNATOR SHOULD PRODUCE ENOUGH JUICE TO KEEP THE MOTOR RUNNING WITHOUT A BATTERY. IF IT KEEPS RUNNING YOUR CHARGING SYSTEM IS O-K, & THE BATTERY IS SUSPECT. IF IT DIES IMMEDEATLY, IT'S NARROWED DOWN TO THE ALTERNATOR OR THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR. BAD BRAND NEW PARTS AREN'T ALL THAT UNCOMMON ANYMORE. UNFORTUNATELY.

JOHN

GMCjunkie · 08-01-2010, 09:03 AM

Thanks everyone!! Wow, great information. I figured that with my truck sittling with minimal running time for almost 3 years that there would be lots of stuff Id have to fix or replace, i guess this starts the process, lol. Discovered I have tranny fluid leaking from somewhere too. lol. never ends.

thanks again!!
junk

**Boog** · 08-01-2010, 11:10 AM

Original starter nose cones are stronger than the aftermarket pieces. Busted nose cones like on yours are common among big blocks. There is a starter bracket intended for the sole purpose of preventing this sort of thing. Mounts to the tail end of the starter and bolts to the side of the block. Quite often they get tossed. Maybe someone can offer up a pic of one. Shims are only a bandaid for a poor fitting aftermarket starter nose cone. I've never seen factory installed shims.
More and more we see higher parts prices and lower quality parts. I've had more sudden battery failures in the last 5 yrs than I've had in all my many years of driving.

GMCjunkie · 08-01-2010, 11:50 AM

where would I get an original rebuilt starter?

07-31-2010, 10:17 AM	#1
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	Starter help please!!! Hey yall, not long ago I asked for info for installing the shims for my starter. I had someone put a brand new starter on my truck, not long after I got it back it was making that horrible grinding noise. I got the shims and today I dropped the starter, as I suspected, no shims were installed with the starter. but, when I got the starter down where I could see it, I see what looks like a big crack in it. Im not real familiar with the starter, fact is I havent touched my truck in almost 3 years. can someone tell me if this starter is toast or ? Thank You! Attached Images __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4 Last edited by GMCjunkie; 07-31-2010 at 10:44 AM.

07-31-2010, 10:43 AM	#2
71GMCinTN Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 52	Re: Starter help please!!! Mine cracked like that, but into two pieces. If you had another old starter, it's real easy to change the housing.

07-31-2010, 10:48 AM	#3
junkyardjohn Registered User Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: SOMERSET KY. Posts: 6,425	Re: Starter help please!!! YEP... SORRY JODIE.. IT'S NFG. I WOULD DEFINATLY GO BACK TO THE INSTALLER (IF YOU PAID A SHOP TO DO IT) & I'M SURE THEY'LL STAND BEHIND IT. IF YOU REPLACE IT YOURSELF (YOU CAN SEE) IT'S A SIMPLE 15 MINUTE JOB... TWO BOLTS & TWO WIRES. 99% OF THE TIME YOU DONT NEED ANY SHIMS. JOHN __________________ junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. THERES ROOM FOR ALL OF GODS CREATURES RIGHT NEXT TO MY MASHED POTATOES// LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST

07-31-2010, 12:12 PM	#4
Shyguy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 2,436	Re: Starter help please!!! I have been working on cars and trucks for many moons, lol, and have never had to use shims when replacing starters as long as I did not go with the aftermarket high torque ones. I may have been just lucky, though. __________________ '67 Chevy C-20 short stepper - build complete, 454/SM-465. '75 C-30 Single Cab DRW-350 small block/NP-435. '77 GMC-6500 Dump Truck, 427 Tall Deck. '92 GMC K-3500 Duallie, 454/4L80E.

07-31-2010, 03:54 PM	#5
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	Re: Starter help please!!! Thanks guys. Just went and got a replacement, as I said the cracked one was new, not even 50 miles on it. The guy at Napa, (older guy I really trust, been goin there for years) said to go ahead and shim it, that it couldnt hurt. Had to go back to Valdosta ga to get it, was beautiful (but hottern 400 h3lls). Just got back to Fl, rainin like a big dawg, lol....so wait it out I reckon, Thanks again guys, wish some of yall lived closer, truck buddies are awsome take care junk __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4

07-31-2010, 04:18 PM	#6
rusty baker '70 C-10 Primer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nevada,missouri Posts: 117	Re: Starter help please!!! Never put a shim in a inline 6 or v-8, but those v-6's all seem to need shims. __________________ "The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." Albert Einstein

07-31-2010, 05:02 PM	#7
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	Re: Starter help please!!! ok... wasnt raining UNDER my truck..lol. Starter is in. now battery is dead. Brand new battery too, it had only been sitting about a week and a half. I can exchange the battrey no prob. but why would it be dead already? any ideas? __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4

07-31-2010, 05:55 PM	#8
rusty baker '70 C-10 Primer Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nevada,missouri Posts: 117	Re: Starter help please!!! Short? __________________ "The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits." Albert Einstein

07-31-2010, 06:43 PM	#9
Field and Son Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Posts: 425	Re: Starter help please!!! I put a new starter in mine-lasted a few months and started that grinding thing. Pulled it out, threw it away and put an old one on from a junk yard. Just seems that more and more, the new parts are crap.

08-01-2010, 12:14 AM	#11
71longbed-brew Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Salem Oregon Posts: 64	Re: Starter help please!!! double check your timing .. i've heard too much advance can put alot of strain on the nose __________________ 350/th350 DNA (Chinesium) Heads Performer Intake 1905 AVS2 Edelbrock 3.42 Eaton Posi

08-01-2010, 08:15 AM	#12
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,237	Re: Starter help please!!! start with one shim you could have a bad altentar pulling off the battery while not running __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube

08-01-2010, 09:03 AM	#14
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	Re: Starter help please!!! Thanks everyone!! Wow, great information. I figured that with my truck sittling with minimal running time for almost 3 years that there would be lots of stuff Id have to fix or replace, i guess this starts the process, lol. Discovered I have tranny fluid leaking from somewhere too. lol. never ends. thanks again!! junk __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4

08-01-2010, 11:10 AM	#15
Boog laying low Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Searcy, Ark. USA Posts: 13,514	Re: Starter help please!!! Original starter nose cones are stronger than the aftermarket pieces. Busted nose cones like on yours are common among big blocks. There is a starter bracket intended for the sole purpose of preventing this sort of thing. Mounts to the tail end of the starter and bolts to the side of the block. Quite often they get tossed. Maybe someone can offer up a pic of one. Shims are only a bandaid for a poor fitting aftermarket starter nose cone. I've never seen factory installed shims. More and more we see higher parts prices and lower quality parts. I've had more sudden battery failures in the last 5 yrs than I've had in all my many years of driving. __________________ Boog 69 Chevy stepside, 358/T350, 4.11 posi, 4.5/4 drop, rallys, poboy driver primer is finer 91 Chevy sportside, Tahoe, Yukon & GMC Crewcab All GM..'nuff said. I stand for the flag and kneel at the cross

08-01-2010, 11:50 AM	#16
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	Re: Starter help please!!! where would I get an original rebuilt starter? __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4



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