Reading around a little the factory big starters getting heat soaked and causing slow cranking issues seem a common problem, from google it appears it's a drop in upgrade on the 350's but I just wanted to make sure using a 92-96 z28 camaro LT1 mini starter (or I even heard 92-96 Corvette starters will work too) would work on my 92 tbi 305

still need to check and adjust the timing if needed, finally got a light timing gun in from online to do it myself and the dist. wrench to loosen the bolt, from reading online many claim running 6 degrees advanced is really liked by these cars instead of the factory Zero degrees, BUT reading more online, some said "Advanced ignition timing will "fight" against the starter, especially noticable when hot."

-shrug-

it takes the car a little bit of cranking time to crank when cold, but will crank right up when the engine has been warmed up, I figure it just might be old and worn out, I don't know the history on it, and going to a mini upgrade one that's better seems a win-win to me.

 

Yes the newer mini starters will fit. You can get them all over the Internet too. I have one from Power Master through summit. Works great. I had the same problem with heat soak, etc.

Rick

 

So it doesn't matter what kind of engine transmission I have right? Just engine size? i have a stock 89 Iroc and am looking for a replacement as well. Thanks in advance.

 

I have one of the L98 Corvette gear reduction starters, which completely eliminated my heat soak issue. The only thing that was different on installation was the bolts were a different length.

 

Thanks for the help guys...currently dealing with a leaking governor cap on the trans that the shop must have broke or put a hole in when installing the new governor the other day...sigh...going to go back there and tell them they need to fix it, if not, I'll throw some oil resistant rtv on it myself to hopefully stop the leak.

slowly been one thing after another, but at least I've learned alot in the process, I literally didn't know anything about vehicles a little over a year ago, it's been quite the experience lol

I found a "new" ac delco professional one cheaper online than autozone sells their duralast one for, I could try that, or indeed get the smaller 4th gen z28 92-96 ones for the camaro/corvette

 

I'm still wondering if this is a straight bolt on upgrade.

 

from what I've read on years old forum posts across the web, the 92-96 Camaro z28 lt1 starter is a straight bolt on upgrade, the Corvette one apparently is slightly different....summit does sell mini starters which I guess are bolt ons for our year models of firebirds/camaros, but idk personally.

I'm hoping my starter didn't totally die out on me and I'm hoping it's just a low battery caused by a bad alternator, got the leak repaired and it drove around great, took it home and disconnected the EST wire and hooked up timing light to check the timing, and car wouldn't crank up,barely even turned over.....my battery tester said it was quite low and a walmart said it tested dead too, about to go pick it up then drive to autozone for them to check the alternator, I've never had to change one before on a vehicle, gonna have to look up a vid on what exactly to unplug/unbolt lol. I'm a little wary of moving the accessory belt.

 

I actually had an issue with my oem starter last year and threw one on from a 93 z28. LT1 starters literally just bolt on your engine, it's that simple. What isnt so simple is sometimes your VATS will not like it. Happened to me, had to remove my vats since it thought I was hotwiring my car.

 

ahh....that's something I didn't consider, the vats crap...I already had to bypass mine with some resistors for the ignition, I haven't messed with the starter bypass relay thing yet....ended up being a bad cell in the battery, alternator tested good and was giving it plenty to charge...hopefully I'm good for years with this new duralast gold one....go figure that a 3 month old well regarded interstate kicked the bucket on me....

when I got the old charged one back the car started alot better, and started good with this new duralast gold one too, I was going to check/mess with the timing but if it starts and drives ok with whatever it's at I'm content with it for a daily driver from point A to B

only thing left is to do the IAC relearn procedure, and some new tires