So, in the ~5 years I've owned this car I've replaced or refurbed just about every moving part and certainly anything directly involved in making the car go, stop or turn. So I'm pretty intimately acquainted with said parts, both the ones that belong there and the ones that were the result of some creative re-engineering. Except for the starter. I've never had to mess with it. Why? 'Cause it's a good one! It's a Powermaster mini starter that's been on the car since I got it. It's on its third engine now but the starter has hung in there like a champ until recently. It barely works now and the real sad part is it's the solenoid on the starter itself causing the problem. I still don't know that much about Maverick starters but I know they don't need more than one solenoid and the one beside the battery does the job fine. So the source of my headache is a part I shouldn't even need. I'm thinking I can fix this starter. Maybe I'll open it up and bypass that solenoid somehow, or maybe I'll take it to a shop and have it rebuilt. It's worth doing since the cost of a new one is pretty high. Hell maybe the thing might even be under warranty. Whichever of these potential remedies eventually fixes my starter, it's going to take time and meanwhile I'm going to want to drive my car. So I have questions! Prior to my happy marriage with this car, my head was polluted with Chevy lore. I knew that SBC's have two different size flexplates/flywheels and that you need a different starter depending on what you have. I also knew that later models had gear reduction starters that are compatible with the older engines. I wasn't surprised to learn the situation is similar with Fords. (I think. I don't know how much of the starter minutiae in my head is actual Ford stuff or misplaced GM trivia.) I know C4's can have two different bellhousings and mine is the smaller one, with a 157 tooth flexplate, same as what originally came on these cars. So a stock Maverick starter ought to fit! This sounds like a good idea. It should be a cheap way to keep the car in service while I'm having the mini starter repaired. But just because I can, doesn't mean I should. There's a reason the previous owner chose this starter over a much less expensive stock one. Was it because even the mild 302 it had was hopped up enough that the stock starter couldn't cut it? If that's the case, then is a stock starter going to work on my ~9.8:1 351w with long tubes? I think it will fit at least. Being a W instead of a 302 pushes the headers out a little further. But, the question is, should I get a stock starter? Or should I get a stock starter off some other car like a 93-95 Mustang? And if I should look for another application, how do I know which ones are appropriate for my small C4 bellhousing and 157 tooth flexplate? Thanks!
AFAIK all small block starters for 157 or 164 tooth flexplates are interchangeable (not necessary so with stick shift applications), I'd consider using the Mustang starter as mentioned or E/F series as I believe all are same on the late 5.0... I used a stock field type from around 1988 on my 10:1-ish 5.0 in the T-Bird, never had a issue cranking and the new permanent magnet starters are better than it was...
Thanks. So when I see different starters listed for auto and manual, that's not because the manual has a 164 tooth ring gear but because of some other difference I need not concern myself with right now. Basically if I'm understanding right, the bellhousing is what positions the starter for the different flexplate, and as long as it's an automatic application I can use any starter I want for a 289/302/Windsor, have I got it right? I also noticed there's only one starter listed for the '93 5.0 Mustang, so it apparently works with a T5, AOD and a C4 at least. Maybe it's the Toploader style transmissions that need a different starter?
For anyone else with starter questions, this was a very good resource: http://www.bcbroncos.com/ford starters.pdf
As I remember, the solenoid mounted on the "mini" starters pushes the drive gear into the flywheel. It is definitely necessary!
Go to pull a part and get the starter off of a late model 5.0 or off of a 3.8 {I think} T bird V6. Same starter, permanent magnet style, solenoid on top. Small than the old style starter, with more power. I had one on my car, got another one laying in the shop for Bubba's truck when I get around to it.
Well that's just awesome. I'm tempted to use the big old cheap stock one, especially if it's going to be temporary, but if "hot start issues" are a thing with those, then I'm a prime candidate to experience that. Daily driven southern car, headers, short trips with the AC on in mid-90's heat... Yeah it's gonna happen. I'll probably just get a later model Ford gear reduction starter and forget about it.
The nose cones of the original starters were different lengths depending if the starter was for an auto or manual trans. Short nose for manual, long nose for auto. Found this out the hard way about 30 years ago when a parts store guy just handed me a starter without looking up the application. Ripped half the teeth off my ring gear. Sometime in the 70's (I think) Ford standardized on the longer length. I've bought the newer starters and just reused my short nose piece.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Ford-Mi...Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item1e6d43c98c This is what I have. New starter. Great price. I haven't got my car on the road so I can't give a first hand account, but they seem to be a good vendor and I found some endorsements via Google research before buying from them last year. Edit: Starter IS installed with a 9.5:1 351 and AOD and works great, but again, not on the road so not "broken in" and no reliability experience to offer.
Wow that's a good deal if it proves to be a good part! Looks it anyway... So I just picked up my starter from Dave's Armature Service here in Memphis. They're an old school shop that's been around since '83, guys seem to know what they're doing and they got it back to me clean and rebuilt with a new gear and new guts in the solenoid for $65. Not as good as the eBay deal but I got it the next day and it was a good bit cheaper than a new one from local sources. Now, will it work great for another 7 years or will it burn my car down the first time I turn the key? That remains to be seen!
Yeah. Had I known I'd still not have found time to install my starter by now, I would have ordered that too.
I wasn't complanin', got probably five POS starters around here that do work but are defiantly nearing their life cycle... Assuming it's a good as it looks, I'm gonna order a 2nd for my T-Bird...
