LT1 Starter in a L98. A few questions
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Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Cary, NC
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: 420 EFI
Transmission: TKO500
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 3:50
LT1 Starter in a L98. A few questions
Hi All,
I am working with my Son on a starter upgrade for his L98 powered IROC.
The LT1 starter that we are using is the unit design from 95 through 97.
GM Number : 10465293, Delco 323-488' PG260M, Duralast DL9989S.
The unit installed fine from the pinion to flex-plate clearance perspective. Running about 0.039" clearance. Is this ok? For the older boat anchor starters GM specified a 0.020" clearance.
The other potential issue is the starter pinion does not fully engage the flywheel ring gear. Roughly 3/4 of the pinion depth is engaged. Is this normal or ok?
The engine is my Son's car is a mild 10:1 355 TPI small block.
Thanks for the help.
Bruce
I am working with my Son on a starter upgrade for his L98 powered IROC.
The LT1 starter that we are using is the unit design from 95 through 97.
GM Number : 10465293, Delco 323-488' PG260M, Duralast DL9989S.
The unit installed fine from the pinion to flex-plate clearance perspective. Running about 0.039" clearance. Is this ok? For the older boat anchor starters GM specified a 0.020" clearance.
The other potential issue is the starter pinion does not fully engage the flywheel ring gear. Roughly 3/4 of the pinion depth is engaged. Is this normal or ok?
The engine is my Son's car is a mild 10:1 355 TPI small block.
Thanks for the help.
Bruce
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,293
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From: Howard Lake, MN
Car: 86 Camaro
Engine: 355- hopefully a 5.3 this summer
Transmission: 700r4
Axle/Gears: 3.42
Re: LT1 Starter in a L98. A few questions
i wouldn't worry about it if it starts fine without making any weird noises.
Re: LT1 Starter in a L98. A few questions
Ditch the LT1 boat anchor starter and get yourself a 88-96 vette starter it will put the LT1 starter to shame and has gear reduction to crank over under any circumstances.
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,895
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From: Pittsburgh PA
Car: 89 Iroc-z
Engine: 555 BBC Turbo
Transmission: TH400
Axle/Gears: MWC 9” 3.00
Re: LT1 Starter in a L98. A few questions
Not sure which starter I used, but it was an LT1 type and it fired my 11 to 1 383 just fine for a year when i ran that motor. Great little starter that left good room around the long tube headers.
You can shim to get better clearance but I didnt do anything special on mine and it worked great.
You can shim to get better clearance but I didnt do anything special on mine and it worked great.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 215
Likes: 0
From: Cary, NC
Car: 87 IROC
Engine: 420 EFI
Transmission: TKO500
Axle/Gears: Moser 9" 3:50
Re: LT1 Starter in a L98. A few questions
Hi Guys,
Thanks for the feedback.
After some digging, I found out that the optimum Pinion engagement depth for a Gear-Reduction starter is 1/4" to 3/8". Any deeper and the Starter has a hard time retracting the pinion (after start). This is a design limitation for any Mini-Starter that has a 0.5" total pinion travel. This assumes that the pinion to flywheel clearance is correct.
The old boat-anchor starters have an ~ 3/4" pinion travel. To cover production tolerances.
For a SBC, the distance from the center of the starter bolt holes(closest to block edge) to the flywheel/flexplate ring gear is usually 15/16" to 1". If the mini-starter manufacturer gives the pinion positions (out / in ) relative to the bolt hole centers and the flywheel/flexplate ring gear width is known, the approximate pinion engagement depth can be calculated.
Thanks again.
Bruce
Thanks for the feedback.
After some digging, I found out that the optimum Pinion engagement depth for a Gear-Reduction starter is 1/4" to 3/8". Any deeper and the Starter has a hard time retracting the pinion (after start). This is a design limitation for any Mini-Starter that has a 0.5" total pinion travel. This assumes that the pinion to flywheel clearance is correct.
The old boat-anchor starters have an ~ 3/4" pinion travel. To cover production tolerances.
For a SBC, the distance from the center of the starter bolt holes(closest to block edge) to the flywheel/flexplate ring gear is usually 15/16" to 1". If the mini-starter manufacturer gives the pinion positions (out / in ) relative to the bolt hole centers and the flywheel/flexplate ring gear width is known, the approximate pinion engagement depth can be calculated.
Thanks again.
Bruce
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