I just installed a LT1 starter on my 1990 camaro 5.0, manual transmission. started up great the first 5 times i tried it. I drove around for 30 min, parked it, went to start it again about an hour later, and it just cranks over like theres no fire. kept messing with it for 5 min or so and it cranked it up. is it a heat issue, or does it need to be shimmed? my car is stock 5.0 TPI, manual tranmission. I asked for a starter for 1997 camaro Z28 FYI.

 

If the starter is spinning the motor over, it's doing its job.

 

I have no idea why I didn't think of that. I'm guessing the whole factor of having an LT motor part on my old school Chevy block had me thinking a million things going wrong.

 

The LT1 block is nearly identical to the Gen I block in all the ways that matter. slightly different coolant passages. You can use all the same bottom end parts in them. same pistons, crank, flywheels, camshafts, pushrods, rockers, valvecovers.... Heads are different and the intake is different (and some chagnes to the front of the engine to accommodate the opti) and that's about it. Thats why LT1 T56's bolt up to Gen I blocks.

It can fail in a way where the starter spins but doesnt engage the flywheel. But if the engine is turning over it has nothing to do with the starter.