Rebuilt OEM or High-Torque Mini Starter?

[airbur]

I need to replace my started before it goes and am wondering if the high-torque mini starter sold by most of the shops are worth the extra $? I can get a fully re-manufactured OEM unit from Checker for $40. Looks like the cheapest mini starter is at Jeff's right now for $75 + shipping.

Are the mini starters any good? Thanks.

 

[Bronco Brian]

Are the mini starters any good? Thanks.

Yes they are I liked the one I had on my 5.0 . So I got one for my 5.8

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I have a rebuilt mini starter , works great.

 

[Larry B]

Big improvement IMO

 

[broncnaz]

While starters can and do last for years rebuilts can sometiomes only last a little while. Personnally I'd go with the local unit its only half the price and you can take it back when it goes bad. Dont believe jeff's has a warrentee on theres but most local stores have lifetime warrentees so you will get the next starter for free. Plus if the jeffs starter goes bad what are you going to do order another and wait for it or buy one locally?

 

[Dave]

I pulled one for $10 at the local U-Jerk-It. It came out of a F150, manual transmission. Been running great for 6 years. Good way to loose some weight.

Funny thing is, you don't know what you are getting at the junk yard but I've had better luck with them than rebuilts.

 

[Viperwolf1]

I need to replace my started before it goes and am wondering if the high-torque mini starter sold by most of the shops are worth the extra $? I can get a fully re-manufactured OEM unit from Checker for $40. Looks like the cheapest mini starter is at Jeff's right now for $75 + shipping.

Are the mini starters any good? Thanks.

$40 is cheap even for the old style starter. What part number is it and is it auto or manual? I really like my mini-starter.

 

[bosshoff]

I got a high torque unit from a company on Ebay called Alterstart out of Texas. Good people, I also have their alternator.

 

[gddyap]

O'reilly's has the regular reman starter for $40 plus $25 core.

 

[brocken]

The $40 Schmucks special might work for a while but it also might die in the middle of nowhere...
I had a brand new local parts store starter die within a couple months.
I've replaced it with a mini starter for Tom's and couldn't be happier so far.
I can't confirm longevity yet but I do believe these are higher quality units.

Usually, if it comes down to $20 or so I'm more than happy to pay for the higher quality item.

 

[Bubbason]

I love mine.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PWM-9103/
Also should last a lot longet due spacing away from headers, where a stock unit is tight to exhaust

 

[brewchief]

I've got the mini from JBG and couldn't be happier. It does cross over to a late model truck/bronco starter so if it does give up far from home you can walk into a parts store and get a replacement. I thought about just buying the late model starter from the parts store but it would have been quite a bit more plus core, the fact the JBG is local to me doesn't hurt either.

 

[bronco-billy-66]

It does cross over to a late model truck/bronco starter .

What years and models would have a mini that would work with my C4? I may have to look for one the next time I go to the yard? Thanks

 

[airbur]

$40 is cheap even for the old style starter. What part number is it and is it auto or manual? I really like my mini-starter.

http://shop.oreillyauto.com/Product...TE&MfrPartNumber=030223X&PartType=123&PTSet=A

It's for a manual.

 

[73stallion]

easier to get to the top bolt with a mini also. i've had mine for several years and it's started my truck with 10.7 volts in the battery.

 

[Viperwolf1]

What years and models would have a mini that would work with my C4? I may have to look for one the next time I go to the yard? Thanks

Look in mid-90's and up with 5.0/5.8 with auto trans. Explorers for sure but they are found in bigger trucks too. For a manual mini look in '95 F150 with manual trans.

 

[DirtDonk]

BBB brand (under the Superior, Assurance names, as well as several others) number 3223 (Motorcraft SA-793) for Manual Trans and 3205 (Motorcraft SA-769 and 769A) for automatic.
Available either completely brand new or rebuilt.
Both are PMGR (permanent magnet, gear reduction), or "mini" starters.
O.E. applications for the manual transmissions include the Broncos, F150's, E-series vans, and others, with 4.9, 5.0 and 5.8 engines. Generally from '92 to '97, but varied by year depending on which model vehicle.
Apps for the automatics are from '90 to '97 cars and also varied by year, depending on the model. Available on the Mustangs, Crown Vics, T-bird, Cougar, Lincoln Marks and a few others.

Should "narrow" it down a bit in the junkyard!

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Actuallly, the Exploders list a different starter than the ones mentioned above. But that could be simply a change in the location of a connector or two, rather than it being a different type of starter.
However, the pics show enough of a difference that I'd look at one closely before using it. It's also a PMGR, but with a different profile than the pickups and Broncos. Not sure why that would be, and it's certainly possible for the book to be wrong. Happens sometimes!
Still, even if it's different, looks like there are plenty of other donors available.

Paul

 

[airbur]

So this one should work fine?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FORD-MUSTANG-HIGH-TORQUE-STARTER-302-351-Manual-NEW-/150454023716

 

[Dave]

I know the 94 Mustang starter is fits the 5.0 Explorers which fits the 302s. Auto tranny. Make sure you pull one for a manual as the nose is longer for the auto to reach the flexplate ring gear and it will not fully disenguage from the flywheel which is about 3/8" closer to the engine. It was amazing how long it ran without destroying the plastic planitary gears. I drove it to 5 miles to the muffler shop with just headers and after they put the exhaust system on it you could hear the horible squeel. Drove back home and the only thing it did was turned the bushing in the nose blue. Swapped it for manual version and all was well.

The mini has an integrated solinoid. I ran a wire directly from the hot post on the solinoid to the starter and connected the start wire to the starter post on the solinoid. But you are probably already aware of that.