I have a 1983 Chevrolet El Camino that has shorty headers and a dual exhaust and the starter is on the way out, it has been on there maybe 6 years, I once had a heat shield that I bought but because of the wiring it would not fit, kind of interfered with it, do I call Summit and get a gear reduction starter for $129.00 that is unaffected by heat, it has a 1 year warranty and is almost twice as powerful as a regular starter, go to CarQuest and spend $51.00 minus the core for 1 with a 2 year warranty, or I can spend $106.00 at NAPA for 1 with a lifetime warranty. Today when I had the car out I stopped at 7-Eleven and when I went to start it it turned slow for a split second and then turned over, when I got home I shot the infrared gun at the starter and the temp was 165 degrees, I have had the headers that are coated on the car for 2 years now, or maybe I need to just place the starter solenoid near the battery. Any thoughts would be appreciated as I will have to make a decision quickly.
Which Starter Do I Buy
- Thread starter c3po
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NAPA starters are the only starters that my friends in the auto business recommend.
How long do you plan to own it? The carequest one would be my first choice but I would keep the old one and get it rebuilt or rebuil it myself. I would keep it as a spare.
I plan on keeping the car for as long as I can, I am just thinking with the headers maybe the gear reduction starter that is not affected by heat would be better. I have had this vehicle since 1987 so that should give you an idea how long I plan on keeping it, I hwill have to look through my old receipts because I think I bought my last starter from NAPA in 2000, I do not know what kind of warranty they had back then. Another thought is the terminal that goes from my battery to the starter has never been replaced, I might need to look at this 1st, any thoughts.
Don't bother cutting the wire and clamping on a universal terminal. The point where the wire contacts the new terminal tends to corrode badly, and resist current flow. I have also seen alternators die from that.
Buy a manufactured battery cable.
Buy a manufactured battery cable.
NAPA has them, Carquest probably does too.
I started the car tonite when it was sitting for several hours and it was fine starting, my problem is basically when the engine is hot and I go to shut it off and then restart in a few minutes it is hard starting, meaning the starter makes a whom sound and then starts, any ideas.
I'm thinking I'd get the NAPA starter and put my receipt in a zip lock bag so it don't fade out. Then I'd get me some new 4 gage battery cables; the bigger the better for less resistance.
BTW c3po, use the (?) when you're asking a question.
BTW c3po, use the (?) when you're asking a question.
I did some checking on the internet and it seems these starters that NAPA sells are remanufactured and not built up to the best standards, I may put on a heat shield for the time being, but I will still check my battery cables. I have heard pros and cons about using the starter solenoid relocation kit, anyone with experience please chime in, Painless Products has some sort of booster for $25.00 that sends more juice to the starter, I had never heard about it, but I still think I will eventually put in the gear reduction starter that is more heat resistant, I just feel that these 25 year old cables are the culprit right now.
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