im almost positive my starter is going out. when in the "on" position, i hear a clicking sound, and the battery is fine. but what do you guys feel about aftermarket starters? summit makes one for about $160 that is 40% lighter than stock, 1/3 the size and 50% more starting torque with more clearence for headers and oil pan. is this just a waste? or should i invest in it since im in need of a starter anyways?

 

buy a high torque mini starter. the gm design isn't that good and it's heavy. rebuilts gm starters are worse so i don't think you'll go wrong up grading to a mini starter.

 

I agree, go ahead and get it (or one of its competitors), you'll be glad you did.

The Summit one IIRC is made out of a Hitachi starter motor, as are alot of them; alot of the others are made from a Nippondenso motor. Both seem to work vastly better than the GM ones. The ND ones have parts that look sort of squarish; on the Hitachi, all the pieces are round.

They're all pretty much either the one basic motor or the other; different ones have different gear ratios, and of course each supplier makes their own aluminum block piece to bolt to a SBC motor.

 

Well, a couple years ago my eng. wouldn't start when it got real hot ( 260* & headers) using the A/C in town. I would raise the hood and let it cool off and eventually it would start. I say I am tired of this sh*t so I go to Checker Auto and they want around $80 for a rebuilt starter. I ask if they have a rebuild kit and they do for $9.95 and I buy it. I Remove and tear down the starter and the solnoid. I have the comutator turned for free (buddy) and install new brush's. I take a look at the sol. and there is a thick copper washer about the size of a silver dollor that is all black and burnt all around the edge on one side. The two terminals that this washer makes contact with are also all black and burnt. I clean the term. up like new and turn the copper washer over for a nice new clean surface. Last Wend. I get caught in traffic and its 92*F out and eng. is running around the 260*F range so I say to myself, self, this is a good time to test this starter rebuild out so I stop at Fleet Farm and run in and buy some oil ( (3) 30w and (3) 40w) and a filter. Gone about 10 min. Get in the car and hit the key and she fired right up. No blanket no nothing and only $9.95 invested.



Auggie