header - starter touching

[khryslerkid]

even my mini starter hit my Dougs headers. quite a few smacks with hammer, heat, and impact socket did the trick.

Lucky! Most frustrating 5-6hours of my life! My First time installing headers on a b body.

Must not have been Dougs headers, or not a true mini starter. I used the D452 2" tube and I have all kinds of clearance around the starter. Nothing else interferes either.

There's a difference with some smaller starters they sell for racing and the mini starter (on the left) that Chrysler uses.

The Dougs is designed around the starter. It will have to be loose to remove the starter but when it's all bolted up there's good clearance.

 

[charger10]

Must not have been Dougs headers, or not a true mini starter. I used the D452 2" tube and I have all kinds of clearance around the starter. Nothing else interferes either.

There's a difference with some smaller starters they sell for racing and the mini starter (on the left) that Chrysler uses.
View attachment 801611

The Dougs is designed around the starter. It will have to be loose to remove the starter but when it's all bolted up there's good clearance.
View attachment 801612

View attachment 801613

i screwed up and did not know I needed a mini-starter! I got the big starter out and waiting till I can buy a mini-starter. $$
thanks

 

[GetX'd]

THeres a million brands of minis. But they’re the way to go with these old big blocks. I have had several that have burned out due to heat. Finally went with a Promaster that’s resists heat soak and fits well with my hooker headers. But even back in the day with a full size starter the hookers still allowed for fitment albeit with many gyrations noted above. No hammering tho.

Go mini - you’ll never go back.....

 

[khryslerkid]

THeres a million brands of minis. But they’re the way to go with these old big blocks. I have had several that have burned out due to heat. Finally went with a Promaster that’s resists heat soak and fits well with my hooker headers. But even back in the day with a full size starter the hookers still allowed for fitment albeit with many gyrations noted above. No hammering tho.

Go mini - you’ll never go back.....

I don't know what the torque is on a mini compared to the original but I bet the mini is stronger. Really spins my 440 !

 

[Steve009]

Must not have been Dougs headers, or not a true mini starter. I used the D452 2" tube and I have all kinds of clearance around the starter. Nothing else interferes either.

There's a difference with some smaller starters they sell for racing and the mini starter (on the left) that Chrysler uses.
View attachment 801611

The Dougs is designed around the starter. It will have to be loose to remove the starter but when it's all bolted up there's good clearance.
View attachment 801612

View attachment 801613

I have 1 3/4” primary Doug’s ceramic headers and a Dakota mini starter.

 

[khryslerkid]

I have 1 3/4” primary Doug’s ceramic headers and a Dakota mini starter.

Maybe it's the 1 3/4" ? I have the 2" and you would think they would be tight fitting but they're not.

 

[charger10]

The instructions probably recommend a mini-starter as that is pretty much standard now. Also there are heat shields available and are a very good idea for hot starts and cause less damage to the starter.
https://www.thermotec.com/products/heat-shields-and-protection/starter-heat-shield

there was nothing in doug's instructions about starters!!

 

[33 IMP]

I have a set of ancient hooker 2" adjustables that only can use the old giant starter. There is a tube routed right thru the spot a mini would be. The were no minis when this header was built.

 

[charger10]

Lucky! Most frustrating 5-6hours of my life! My First time installing headers on a b body.

not to beat a dead horse, but getting back to headers. put powermaster mini-starter in and 2 pipes hit, so tried all 4 adjustments on starter and still touched. so took pipe and hammer as recommended and smashed down . after several retries got it to fit. then front 2 pipes hit steering box. so after several times of smashing pipes , I have 1/4" of clearance. is this enough clearance?? I did get heat shield for starter.

 

[Steve009]

not to beat a dead horse, but getting back to headers. put powermaster mini-starter in and 2 pipes hit, so tried all 4 adjustments on starter and still touched. so took pipe and hammer as recommended and smashed down . after several retries got it to fit. then front 2 pipes hit steering box. so after several times of smashing pipes , I have 1/4" of clearance. is this enough clearance?? I did get heat shield for starter.

My starter is damn close (like 1/4 of clearance) but never had issues with it cranking over even after a long running period. Maybe I can thank the ceramic coating for this? I didn’t have steering box issues but both pitman arm areas had to be dinged significantly. The engine will rock when revved up but I think it tips towards the passenger side meaning away from the steering box so it should be fine. Maybe someone can correct me here if I’m wrong.

 

[BB BELLA]

Estwing swing press, solves most fitment issues!