I see many starter motors with straight or staggered bolt patterns for '82 all models. What is the difference apart from a bad temper?

 

Staggered is the factory pattern for the larger, 168 tooth, flywheel/flexplate.

 

alot of aftermarket mini starters use the straight across bolt pattern but will fit either 168 or 153 tooth flexplates.

 

Good Morning
I have had problems with my starter getting hot and although it still engages teeth it turnes really slowly and at compression strokes it really slows down. I do have headers. I am tired of this as when I shut it off to get gas or whatever it won't crank fast enough to start. I have gone through several starters all with the same results. They work fine when engine is cold but not so good when engine heats up. I have decided to try a hi torque style starter. Any experience with this issue and will this Hi torque reduction starter fix my problem.
Also is there anyway to tell how many teeth I have on my flywheel without counting. I have a 350 block ( 383 stroker) with 700R4
Thanks.
Also do you recommend a particular brand of gear reduction starter.

 

Same thing here. I was told that the actual starter I was using was for a 6 cyl Chev truck. I am waiting for a good one that I ordered.

 

Staggered bolts are for the larger flexplate. Straight bolts are for the smaller flexplate. Aftermarket starters often fit both, but they all use the straight bolt holes... there is no starter that can turn the smaller flexplate/flywheel with a staggered bolt pattern aside from a weird special starter with an adapter plate setup that costs $400 or so.

 

Hi, so my starter that has been on it has the staggard mounting holes. Does that mean it positively has to be a 168T flywheel???
Any success with any specific brand of mini-starter ??
Thanks very much !!!!
I just want to cruise before the snow flys.

 

That is what the parts guy told me as well. I have staggard holes

 

Check your timing. Too much advance can make the engine buck up against the starter when the engine gets good and warm. Old timey racers would set their timing by advancing the timing on a hot engine until it started bogging down the starter, and then pulling a little timing back out.

 

Thanks for the advice ! I did actually retard my timing a little but yeah it does buck against all the compression strokes so I will take it from 8deg down to 6 or so. It still is TPI and since I didn't build the 383 stroker I am not sure what it is suppose to be. Any ideas on what is a good brand of hi torque starter to get?

 

You have to use whatever style starter that will mount to the pad on the engine block.. so if the mounting pad has inline bolts you can use an aftermarket inline bolt mini-starter that will crank 153 or 168 Tooth flexplates.

Use a starter that can crank the engine... A high compression engine really needs hi-torque starter.. the OEM part will struggle especially after the engine is warm and there is heat soak..

 

Thanks FRMULA88,
I do have both bolt patterns on my block. Straight across and staggard. Is there a (rumor) corvette starter around 1984 that is hi torque that is smaller and stronger and won't overheat??
Any ideas on a good brand of mini ? I am thinking maybe I will just go that route
Thanks again

 

you need to make/buy a heat shield and get a heat blanket for it too. its a all too common problem for those who run headers.

 

I also should have mentioned that when you are checking your timing, you should also be checking to see if the timing advances on rev-up and then goes back to the initial static setting after the engine slows back down to idle. In other words, a sticking advance can be as bad as too much initial static timing to begin with.

 

The 1996-00 vortec 350 truck starters are mini high torque units, In fact they are tiny little starters. Every part store carries them. Around $100-125. Has no prob cranking over higher compression engines.

I have one that I bought for my V8 S10 with 7qt oil pan (needed a real small starter to fit with out issues but needed something with lots of torque). It's a 10.25:1 compression 355. This starter works great for me.

I run the summit brand protorque high torque mini starter on my camaro http://www.summitracing.com/parts/su...3-os/overview/ On this starter I did have to clock it and also grind one cormer off the alum mount block cause it hit my headers.

Here's a pic of the 96-00 vortec 350 truck starter next to a std. full size starter

 

Thanks Night Rider.
I wish I would have gotten your reply sooner. I ordered a mini-torque from JEG for $180.oo yesterday. Hopefully it works. If not I like your vortec motor starter idea actually better.
Thanks again.

 

a stock replacement starter can be picked up locally AND comes with a warranty that isn't a hassle.

small flex/inline: 93-97 LT1 Camaro

large flex/staggered: 96-99 Chevy Truck

 

Thanks everyone
@ basiccamaro After unplugging my timing disconnect by the firewall I set the timing. revving the engine unplugged timing jumps forward to approxinately 25deg BTDC. With it plugged in the computer advances it around 5 deg. and then when revving slowly it does raise it more, so I think it is working properly. I am not sure what the base timing should be. It is a 383 stroker with just a little lope at idle. I have down to I think 8 deg. base timing now. Any thoughts ????

 

Thanks everyone
@ basiccamaro After unplugging my timing disconnect by the firewall I set the timing. revving the engine unplugged timing jumps forward to approxinately 25deg BTDC. With it plugged in the computer advances it around 5 deg. and then when revving slowly it does raise it more, so I think it is working properly. I am not sure what the base timing should be. It is a 383 stroker with just a little lope at idle. I have down to I think 8 deg. base timing now. Any thoughts ????

 

8 may be a little high for TPI. The KS may be pulling it back without you knowing it.

The computer controlled timing uses a low base setting then significantly adds to it once the motor fires up at idle. This allows much more advance at idle without the additional advance causing an issue during start up.

 

Thanks everyone.
I will try retarding my timing another degree or two and see how it turns over. Great advice everyone. My starter has arrived and hopefully I can go burn some rubber this weekend before the snow flys.
Thanks again everyone.

 

my point was that your 8 degrees 'may' affect performance but it's certainly too low to cause issues with the starter turning over the motor.

 

Thanks for the clarification. I will get starter installed and go from there.
Thanks again.