Possible solution to starter problem.. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

GMCjunkie · 03-01-2011, 07:19 PM

Ok, My Burb went in to a shop yesterday. For thoes of you that dont know, it was grinding horribly, and nothing I did fixed it. I talked to the guy today, he says hes sure its the starter, I had a Napa starter in it, actually had 3 different ones in it. He said he ordered a Delco starter, and heres what I want opinions on. He said that he ran the numbers from my engine block thru something on the net, and discovered that my engine was manufactured in 1976, he said that is the reason that the starter isnt engaging correctly.
He said this evening that it is fixed and will be ready to go tomorrow.

Opinions please..

thanks
junk

dougo · 03-01-2011, 07:30 PM

I had some recent starter problems... and ended up with an AC Delco. I have a 454 in my burb, mid 70's block. The housing on the AC Delco was larger, I did not have to use any shims... and everything lined up correctly on the flywheel. Much better fit than the other new starter that failed (with less than 175 miles on it).

In my opinion - you cannot go wrong with an AC Delco. I've driven my burb over 300 miles since... and no problem.

eightbanger · 03-01-2011, 07:40 PM

Taking note of castings #'s and date code on the block to get an idea of it's age is all good...but how that relates to the starter is something I'd like to know also, I'm not saying it doesn't just curious.
Great news though J!...fixed and ready for home.

**too much stuff** · 03-01-2011, 10:13 PM

Glad to hear it is ready to go. It is very possible that after a certain year the flywheel, starter drive, starter housing etc... may have changed slightly. If he de- coded the engine and matched up a starter to that application, you should be good. Delco is a very good starter.
Side note: When my dad was alive this is what he did for a living was starters, alternators generators etc... i remember him telling me to always try to keep the original starter with the original engine if possible. Even if you bought another starter, find a different core to trade off and keep the original. I know this isn't quite your case, but for future reference, if the starter works good, rebuild it if possible when the time comes.
Eric

60ratrod · 03-01-2011, 11:23 PM

i've got one cast iron nose housing that uses the shorter bolts and i love that nose! never had to shim it. now every time i have to drop my starter and swap it out i swap the nose housings over so i know i get a great fit everytime. and i have never had any alignment issues with the starter with that nose either, aside from heat saturation, but its hard not to have that with headers. but that's awesome that he knew exactly what to do with it!

vectorit · 03-01-2011, 11:36 PM

Good for you J!

I hope you get your baby home to do more fun things to it than to be wrestling with a starter.. Such a pain.

Sometimes a tow truck bill, or a shop day rate bill is necessary to get over that hump. We can't be all that and a bag a chips when it comes to figuring out problems!

VA72C10 · 03-02-2011, 01:35 AM

Hope this fixes it!

eightbanger · 03-02-2011, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Sometimes a tow truck bill, or a shop day rate bill is necessary to get over that hump. We can't be all that and a bag a chips when it comes to figuring out problems!

What Vectorit said here is very true, in fact i'm throwing in the towel on my mystery noise from the Torque converter and taking it to the shop today.

GMCjunkie · 03-02-2011, 08:23 AM

Thanks for all yalls comments! Yes, Im ready to get it home, and hoping that this really fixes it., have had so many false alarms. Just hoping that the old saying "fix one thing, something else goes wrong" dosent apply, at leaste not for a long while, lol Wont be able to get it til this afternoon im afraid, so will update yall later!!

Thanks again!!
junk

big blue 72 · 03-02-2011, 09:44 AM

Hooray for Jodie! Hopefully this will be the nd of your trials and tribulations with the Burb. Go Jodie Go!

pumpkin · 03-02-2011, 10:59 AM

Sounds to me like he my have it fixed, but is blowing smoke up our ass to try and look good cause he doesn't know what he did to fix it.

Hardesty454 · 03-02-2011, 12:13 PM

Starters for all manufacts are different every few years, the only company that stayed the same was Dodge (for almost 100 years) if you had a started with the wrong bendix, teeth or whatever it would work but not for long. Say the bendix would extend and hit (but is the wrong size for your truck) and only a portion of the teeth were matching, it would wear out a whole lot faster than the correct starter.

My openion, You had a decently smart tech and Ac Delco is (for a stock) company I will alwayd trust for any of my Chevys. Cant go wrong with them.

gcburdic · 03-02-2011, 01:20 PM

just for you Junkie....That's great news sweetie...I'm so happy for you darlin'!!!

(I really like saying that!!!

)

GMCjunkie · 03-02-2011, 02:23 PM

Thanks yall! Going to pick'er up this afternoon, Hope that is truly the fix. If it is, then Im gonna put a few hundred miles on her to make sure nothing else is waiting to break

And, thanks Geoff, you can say that anytime..

1quik70 · 03-02-2011, 03:22 PM

Had the same issue with my 396, i put three different starters in it, all would die in less than an month. Finally just bought a mini starter off Ebay, and haven,t had a single problem since! Hope your problem has been fixed!

03-01-2011, 07:19 PM	#1
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	Possible solution to starter problem.. Ok, My Burb went in to a shop yesterday. For thoes of you that dont know, it was grinding horribly, and nothing I did fixed it. I talked to the guy today, he says hes sure its the starter, I had a Napa starter in it, actually had 3 different ones in it. He said he ordered a Delco starter, and heres what I want opinions on. He said that he ran the numbers from my engine block thru something on the net, and discovered that my engine was manufactured in 1976, he said that is the reason that the starter isnt engaging correctly. He said this evening that it is fixed and will be ready to go tomorrow. Opinions please.. thanks junk __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4

03-01-2011, 07:30 PM	#2
dougo Registered User Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 543	Re: Possible solution to starter problem.. I had some recent starter problems... and ended up with an AC Delco. I have a 454 in my burb, mid 70's block. The housing on the AC Delco was larger, I did not have to use any shims... and everything lined up correctly on the flywheel. Much better fit than the other new starter that failed (with less than 175 miles on it). In my opinion - you cannot go wrong with an AC Delco. I've driven my burb over 300 miles since... and no problem. __________________ Doug '72 GMC K2500 Suburban 4x4

03-01-2011, 07:40 PM	#3
eightbanger 454 MAKES IT ROAR Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Essex, U.K Posts: 2,701	Re: Possible solution to starter problem.. Taking note of castings #'s and date code on the block to get an idea of it's age is all good...but how that relates to the starter is something I'd like to know also, I'm not saying it doesn't just curious. Great news though J!...fixed and ready for home. __________________ Nigel. An American living in a British body. 1971 Chevy Cheyenne 10 454 "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty" - Thomas Jefferson No more pain. 03.12.60 -- 12.28.10 http://www.youtube.com/Eightbanger

03-01-2011, 10:13 PM	#4
too much stuff Roadtrip! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Grand Rapids MN Posts: 13,714	Re: Possible solution to starter problem.. Glad to hear it is ready to go. It is very possible that after a certain year the flywheel, starter drive, starter housing etc... may have changed slightly. If he de- coded the engine and matched up a starter to that application, you should be good. Delco is a very good starter. Side note: When my dad was alive this is what he did for a living was starters, alternators generators etc... i remember him telling me to always try to keep the original starter with the original engine if possible. Even if you bought another starter, find a different core to trade off and keep the original. I know this isn't quite your case, but for future reference, if the starter works good, rebuild it if possible when the time comes. Eric __________________ 67 gmc custom lwb dakota truck. Sold...And bought back 69 swb 4x4 project (in progress) 70 c-10 lwb texas truck 70 4x4/BB/bkts/posi/tach(retired) 70 swb (wifes) 70 jimmy camper 71 K-5 factory 2wd 71 cheyenne 4x4/tach/posi/ plow rig 71 Cheyenne20 BB, buckets, tach, tilt, 4 speed 72 jimmy CST wyoming rig 72 jimmy Colorado rig 72 lifted texas 4x4 3/4 ton burb 65 fury conv. 383/auto 65 chrysler 300 "L" 413 auto

03-01-2011, 11:23 PM	#5
60ratrod yes, i do Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Spokane, wa Posts: 2,734	Re: Possible solution to starter problem.. i've got one cast iron nose housing that uses the shorter bolts and i love that nose! never had to shim it. now every time i have to drop my starter and swap it out i swap the nose housings over so i know i get a great fit everytime. and i have never had any alignment issues with the starter with that nose either, aside from heat saturation, but its hard not to have that with headers. but that's awesome that he knew exactly what to do with it! __________________ ERROR 404....... SNAPPY COMEBACK NOT FOUND _______________________________________________________________________________________________ -60 Chevy C10, dead 350/good th350 combo, sitting on a 76 c10 blazer frame, built from 11 different vehicles "the abomination" -07 gmt900 silverado 1500 lt xcab z71, granite blue -81 suzuki gs650g "shelah"- current project -81 kz1000m1 csr "sarge" -next project (just beautification) -07 kawasaki vulcan classic vn900

03-01-2011, 11:36 PM	#6
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: Possible solution to starter problem.. Good for you J! I hope you get your baby home to do more fun things to it than to be wrestling with a starter.. Such a pain. Sometimes a tow truck bill, or a shop day rate bill is necessary to get over that hump. We can't be all that and a bag a chips when it comes to figuring out problems! __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU

03-02-2011, 01:35 AM	#7
VA72C10 VA72C10 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 25,269	Re: Possible solution to starter problem.. Hope this fixes it! __________________ Looking for a 67-72 swb or blazer project in or around VA.

03-02-2011, 08:23 AM	#9
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	Re: Possible solution to starter problem.. Thanks for all yalls comments! Yes, Im ready to get it home, and hoping that this really fixes it., have had so many false alarms. Just hoping that the old saying "fix one thing, something else goes wrong" dosent apply, at leaste not for a long while, lol Wont be able to get it til this afternoon im afraid, so will update yall later!! Thanks again!! junk __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4

03-02-2011, 09:44 AM	#10
big blue 72 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: hamilton,ohio,usa Posts: 1,499	Re: Possible solution to starter problem.. Hooray for Jodie! Hopefully this will be the nd of your trials and tribulations with the Burb. Go Jodie Go! __________________ Broken Back Club 72 Club GMC Club Panel truck Club 6 cylinder Club Unfinished Projects Club Outdoor Sportsmens Club

03-02-2011, 10:59 AM	#11
pumpkin Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: East Sooke B.C. Canada Posts: 543	Re: Possible solution to starter problem.. Sounds to me like he my have it fixed, but is blowing smoke up our ass to try and look good cause he doesn't know what he did to fix it.

03-02-2011, 12:13 PM	#12
Hardesty454 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Riverbank, Ca Posts: 1,006	Re: Possible solution to starter problem.. Starters for all manufacts are different every few years, the only company that stayed the same was Dodge (for almost 100 years) if you had a started with the wrong bendix, teeth or whatever it would work but not for long. Say the bendix would extend and hit (but is the wrong size for your truck) and only a portion of the teeth were matching, it would wear out a whole lot faster than the correct starter. My openion, You had a decently smart tech and Ac Delco is (for a stock) company I will alwayd trust for any of my Chevys. Cant go wrong with them. __________________ Rob 1971 c10 - ground up in progress Tripp's Speed Shop Build - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=589750

03-02-2011, 01:20 PM	#13
gcburdic Restoration Virgin! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Huntersville, NC Posts: 8,298	Re: Possible solution to starter problem.. just for you Junkie....That's great news sweetie...I'm so happy for you darlin'!!! (I really like saying that!!!) __________________ Geoff with a G 1968 Chevy C10 SWB The Mistress 1972 Custom Deluxe C20 Suburban A Suburban Named Isabella 1966 Ford Mustang Mama's High School Graduation Present

03-02-2011, 02:23 PM	#14
GMCjunkie Dude...I'm a CHICK Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lakeland Georgia Posts: 6,192	Re: Possible solution to starter problem.. Thanks yall! Going to pick'er up this afternoon, Hope that is truly the fix. If it is, then Im gonna put a few hundred miles on her to make sure nothing else is waiting to break And, thanks Geoff, you can say that anytime.. __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "The unexamined life is not worth living" -Socrates ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* '71 GMC Suburban 4x4

03-02-2011, 03:22 PM	#15
1quik70 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Jeffersonville, Indiana Posts: 136	Re: Possible solution to starter problem.. Had the same issue with my 396, i put three different starters in it, all would die in less than an month. Finally just bought a mini starter off Ebay, and haven,t had a single problem since! Hope your problem has been fixed!



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