LT1nitrouZ

So I just aquired a 396 LT1 that is a 14:1 compression motor and it is eating starters. Guy that had it said it would eat a starter every 3 or 4 cranks. He has used stock starters and aftermarket low torque ministarter built for 18:1 compression motors and ate em just the same. We have used a 168 and a 153 tooth flywheel and it does the same thing so I dont think it is the flywheel.

Any ideas?

Speed Density

iTrader: (38)

14:1?!?!?!

Good Lord. Is that a race Car?

I doubt he used a stock starter for long, even if he did. Thats a lot to crank.

Tony.

LT1nitrouZ

Whats a race car? I only own street cars.

actually the stock starters are pretty good... used on tons of 12-13:1 cars that I know of

Ls1Bait

Yea what kinda octane you running on a 14.1 comp. Is there any aftermarket starters for LT1s.

Ray@Nitrous Outlet

any SBC starter for a 153tooth flywheel should work

when you say eats the starter what is it doing....chewing the teeth off the drive gear, not turning the car over, etc

LT1nitrouZ

chewing the teeth off... its NOT the starter unless we got 4 defective starters in a row. It is something else going on. I dont know if he had the starter shimmed or not or if maybe that would cause the problem... so How do you correctly shim a starter?

LT1nitrouZ

pump gas

sleeperMULLET

iTrader: (4)

there is a specific amount of clearnace you need between the teeth, you need to get some shims and find which one will give you the correct clearance. I don't have my factory manual home with me so I don't know the amount, anyone else have a manual that can help?

LT1nitrouZ

Theoretically this could be the problem though?

Ray@Nitrous Outlet

if you are shearing the teeth you have a shim issue.....when you buy a new starter it will have the instructions on how to shim it included.

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...3d80170613.jsp

http://www.carcraft.com/howto/2988/index3.html

LT1nitrouZ

its shearing the teeth or breaking the gear completely.... so maybe if I shim it right it will work.

ggk

iTrader: (1)

yeah your gear mesh is off shim it and youll be fine

Ls1Bait

Nice

Ive heard of people of having problems with pump gas with over 13.1.

LT1nitrouZ

they are just getting their gas from the wrong pump... I have a special pump behind my shop that happens to distribute c16

Captainofiron

iTrader: (1)

Yea he is referring to the backlash of the gear on the starter and yeah it has everything to do with gear failure.
Its kinda like if you just got a new differential and ring and pinion and just bolted them on and tried to go race, your rear end would probably blow up.
I have never had to myself shim a starter but most Auto parts stores have the shims in the "HELP!" section.

LT1nitrouZ

yeah I knew that, but like ya said I have never shimmed a starter nor have I had a problem with one... then again I have never tried to crank a 14:1 motor either

Captainofiron

iTrader: (1)

My little brothers truck was eating up starters too, but it is an older truck, I couldnt figure out what the problem was, but the retard at parts store was giving me the newer style gear, or what they call "metric" I think its just the 153 tooth. It didnt dawn on me until I was at teh parts store and was watching him look up the starter and saw the other option.

DeltaT

iTrader: (5)

When I had starter problems I ended up with the front end up on heavy jack, a remote starter button on a long cord, and me laying under the car. You sometimes have to see what's going on before the problem is obvious.

2 cranks and I found out what was wrong - completely different than what I was thinking - turned out to be a bad 1-way sprag on the starter.

Sears sells a nice remote start button for like $20.

Jim

STREETLETHALZ

make sure you don't have bearing issues.....i know a guy that started having starter issues on a SC'd LT1 engine and had a thrust bearing gone bad.