Hi guys,

My car is an 88 305 TBI automatic and has hedman shorties.

The headers are causing starter heat soak issues on hot days (leaving me unpredictably stranded) and the car is my daily driver, so I wanna replace the starter and solenoid and then wrap the starter with thermal wrap.

I have no idea how old the starter and solenoid are, so replacement with new seems smart from a reliability standpoint.

My question: will the passenger header need to be dropped or is there sufficient clearance to remove the starter without doing so?

Thanks
Rob

 

I just put shorties into my 88 IROC 5.7L and I didn't have to take it out when I put them in, but I'm not sure if you'd have to remove them to get it out. I'd be interested in learning that info. When I did starters on my 3 other 88-89 305 TBI Firebirds, the trick that I did learn was to point the nose of it up in the air and then bring it straight down. I recommend not being underneath the starter when you start this in case it slips. It's a heavy little bastard!

 

yes it will come out.

but DO NOT reinstall the stock starter. Pick up a stock starter for a 96 Z28. It's smaller, lighter and a more efficient design that is much more resistant to heat soak.

the easier install is worth the price of admission alone.

 

Unfortunately I already had a stock ACDelco starter for my car sent. Not worth it to me to ship it back to get the newer type. I crawled around underneath and it looks simple - drop the Y and call it a day.

 

try loosening the collector bolts to let the y drop down a half an inch or so first. might get lucky.

 

^