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Anybody on here actually done this swap successfully? Is it really just a bolt in after you tug a little more battery cable that direction? It looks like a good swap, especially being how small it is, my big stock starter gets some ol' heat soak issues when it gets hot and it sits and you try to start it right back up. I'm sure a new OE stock starter would be plenty, but wondering if there is any good reason not to do the gear reduction C4 starter?
What's the difference between the C4 starter and a 4th gen LT1 starter?
Idk, I'm still running the stock starter on all my thirdgens. Haven't seen a reason to upgrade. I was running the 1950's tech starter and external solenoid etc on the Mustang for several years. One day it didn't start, so I upgraded to the 90's style gear reduction starter everyone always raved about on the Ford forums. Gotta say I don't get what the big deal is... It's not like it starts the engine better than the one that it had before.
I guess the point I'm getting at is that car enthusiasts like to throw away money on stupid shiz that really doesn't serve much of a functional purpose. If you have a reason to upgrade, then sure... But it just seems like sometimes people are just looking for things to change because they can.
Have one on all my sbc 3rdgens. Weighs 10 lbs or so, has cool sound when starting (real panty dropper), don't think it pulls as many amps, only real failure I've heard of is the contacts going out (rare) and the rebuild kit is easy to install plus stupid cheap.
Bought one new one and have gotten several used ones from vet forums for around 50 bones or so. No failures yet in 20 yrs or so?
That's exactly the starter I was looking at, I like that it is gear reduction for pulling less power cranking, less heat through the cable, and if it's a lot smaller like I was thinking then it will give it some room off the headers and y pipe so it will do less heat soaking. Thanks ttop!
Have one on all my sbc 3rdgens. Weighs 10 lbs or so, has cool sound when starting
That's the Nippondenso style starter, definitely has a different sound to it. I ran that style for years (10?) until I changed headers and my new oil pan didn't allow for the clocking I needed. Those are good starters.
Interesting. Rock Auto says 1992-1996 Corvette for that starter. Funny that they did away with the support snout.
The Rock Auto spec sheet shows the 96 Camaro starter as being just a hint more powerful, but just from guess-timation, the Vette unit looks a bit smaller (snicker). Interesting.
I have been looking at doing this as well since my current starter gets kind of grumpy when it is hot. Do you have a link to the bolts needed for this swap?
My original starter was giving me trouble. Whether hot or cold when I would try to start it would click 2-3 times then finally start.
I got a used starter from an 89 Vette ($50 cdn) and ordered the 12338064 + 14037733 bolts. Went right in and like others just had to unclip the cable and pull it a bit to reach.
Sounds like a newer car when cranking now lol. Plenty of room to install my headers too.
I prefer the small starter for two reasons in particular. It's light and provides additional clearance to headers.
I've had a 153 tooth version I used on an LG4. IIRC that application was an LT1 as posted above.
Also a 168 tooth mini-starter from a mid-late 90's 350 pickup (L31) on the late 70's shortblock I currently have on the road.
And I like the way it sounds.
I will definitely get one of these C4 ot LT1 starters when I put my new engine equipped with headers in this spring. I paid a good bit more for a mini-starter last time now I see an Lt1 or C4 starter is a cheaper route. I also plan to get some of that heat shield also. I used the heat shield with my last car after problems with the headers getting the starter too hot. It solved that problem.
I run the large 168 tooth flexplate and the Vortec starter on everything. Even my 8.1 big block has the 350 vortec starter on it. My 97 Express van is still on the same factory starter it was built with back in 1996 and I have headers on it. The 8.1 in my old G20 van has 2nd gen Camaro big block headers on it and the Vortec 350 starter has no issue turning over the 8.1 with its 4.37" stroke after it is heat soaked. The starter on the 8.1 is the same junkyard V6 Astro van (same as a L31 Vortec 350) starter that I had on my 10.5:1 383 in my G20.
My original starter was giving me trouble. Whether hot or cold when I would try to start it would click 2-3 times then finally start.
I got a used starter from an 89 Vette ($50 cdn) and ordered the 12338064 + 14037733 bolts. Went right in and like others just had to unclip the cable and pull it a bit to reach.
Sounds like a newer car when cranking now lol. Plenty of room to install my headers too.
I have one of these and it works great and has great clearance for my headers.
I think I did a LT1 or maybe was a vortec starter on my 87 it was SOOOOO much easier to hold up with one hand and the other to start the bolts - never going back to the heavy **** originals reason they are so light is they use permanent magnets instead of the heavy and bulky windings
My friend and I picked up new eBay special $60 LT1 starters for our cars that even came with bolts. Listed as a 3HP high torque starter but the applications are all LT1 cars. We've both had them for over a year now and still doing great. They turn the engine over so effortlessly. The weight savings alone is worth it, screw heaving an original style ones up in there! Did it once and that was enough.
I have a summit mini starter giving me issues....
I wanted to purchase one locally from Auto parts with LIFETIME replacement... Advance has all car quest reman, but Autozone has a "Durlast Gold", all new, LIFETIME warranty and it looks just like the Remy one on Rock Auto, which I assume makes it for Auto Zone...
If you search for 94 Vette and 94 F Body you get 2 different starters... the F body looking more like the older, round dome covers, etc... Got the Vette one
Ordered some bolts, used a coupon code for the holidays, after I return the core, should be $127 total...
And the convenience of taking it down the road to replace it (should the need arise
For those having heat soak issues, I recommend a heat shield. I've had one on my car that has headers for the last fifteen years and have never had a hot start issue. Not sure which one is right for your car, but here's a quick link:
Are the LT1 starters for the 153 tooth flexplate on the 5.0 tpi?
If it is still OEM yes. If someone like me has been in there it could have a 168 tooth. I use a 168 tooth on everything. I use a Vortec starter on everything too. My 496 in my Tahoe has the Vortec 350 starter cranking it even. Cranks over that 496 effortlessly as well.
I grabbed a gear reduction one off a forth gen camaro in the junkyard, , pulled it apart and cleaned it and relubed it , it was totally nasty . Works effortlessly on my 35 with 10 to 1 compression and dons headers, I was having bad heat soak issues with my stock one after installing the engine, left me stranded twice, so I got the forth gen one to replace it. 20 was cheap enough.
Well... the Autozone / Duralast / Remy starter did not work for me...
It "clicked", they added a bunch of shims, it turned over twice, but was never consistent... checked power, all good...
I believe he said it had 11 teeth and the summit mini we pulled out had 10 teeth...
Picked up a PowerMaster 9100 for $135 down the street and it works great...
Not sure what happened, picked 94 Vette starter So no lifetime warranty either
If it is still OEM yes. If someone like me has been in there it could have a 168 tooth. I use a 168 tooth on everything. I use a Vortec starter on everything too. My 496 in my Tahoe has the Vortec 350 starter cranking it even. Cranks over that 496 effortlessly as well.
07-23-2018, 01:30 AM
So no lifetime warranty either 
