Starter removal

[Blazer85]

I've got a 68 road runner that has a 440 in it now. Starter took a crap on me yesterday. I have the starter off of the block and the car has hooker comp headers. Any advice on how to get the old full sized starter out? I have the header loose in the engine bay but i cant seem to get it out. I feel like I'm missing something fairly simple. Thanks.

 

[GetX'd]

Back in the day I became and expert at swapping starters on 68 GTX. If you have a full size starter you need to unbolt the motor mount on that side and jack up the motor a little - you also have to unbolt the header on that side and pull it off the studs.

Sounds like a lot - but with a little practice you'll it down. The headers are the problem because they wrap around the starter.

Then when you buy a new starter do yourself a favor and buy a mini.

 

[Blazer85]

Back in the day I became and expert at swapping starters on 68 GTX. If you have a full size starter you need to unbolt the motor mount on that side and jack up the motor a little - you also have to unbolt the header on that side and pull it off the studs.

Sounds like a lot - but with a little practice you'll it down. The headers are the problem because they wrap around the starter.

Then when you buy a new starter do yourself a favor and buy a mini.

Thanks for the advice I'll try that tonight. I have a mini starter coming from summit so it should be here today.

 

[moparedtn]

Yeah, the Hedmans on my 440 actually are right up against the starter on mine as well - and it's the smaller '95 Dakota high torque starter!
I wouldn't recommend Hedman 440 headers to anyone. PITA on spark plugs and they don't fit real well anywhere, especially with a 4 speed.

 

[Bruzilla]

And, while your header is off, might be a good time to pull the studs and replace with header bolts as you will be going through this problem again.

 

[moparedtn]

And, while your header is off, might be a good time to pull the studs and replace with header bolts as you will be going through this problem again.

 

[Blazer85]

And, while your header is off, might be a good time to pull the studs and replace with header bolts as you will be going through this problem again.

Already have bolts, the car has edelbrock heads on it.

 

[moparedtn]

Already have bolts, the car has edelbrock heads on it.

Innocent question/curious:
Are those physically bigger than stock heads?

 

[Blazer85]

Innocent question/curious:
Are those physically bigger than stock heads?

I honestly don't know. I do know that i had to buy a firecore distributor because edelbrock advertised a stock distributor wouldn't fit. I don't thing they are any taller, just possibly a bit wider.

 

[Blazer85]

Well, the new starter is in after about 12 hours of work, don't want to have to do that again.....

 

[GetX'd]

Hopefully you won't have to for a good while. But now that you know the intracacies it will be much easier the next time.

Another thought would be to add a starter heat wrap to keep the heat from the headers off the starter. That's a big part of what causes them to burn out before their time.

Glad it all worked out....

 

[Blazer85]

I do have plans to do a heat wrap on it eventually. Pretty sure the major issue was that hooker headers basically sat on the starter.

 

[69 GTX]

FYI my TTI headers allow me to install the mini starter with out removing them.

 

[Blazer85]

FYI my TTI headers allow me to install the mini starter with out removing them.

Yea, Went with hookers because I didn't have the money for TTI and the rest of the exhaust on the car was already set up for the old hookers that were in it.

 

[khryslerkid]

FYI my TTI headers allow me to install the mini starter with out removing them.

You don't even have to loosen them?

 

[69 GTX]

Nope, check my thread 69 GTX I have a picture there.

 

[69 GTX]

 

[69 GTX]