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I have a 72 LS5 454 automatic Corvette. The starter is not engaging with the flexplate. I will have to pull it out and have it repaired. I have several Mopars and have upgraded them to modern starters. They are more compact,and stronger and provide more clearance from the exhaust than the original starters. Is there a modern GM starter that is a direct bolt in for the 454 in my Corvette? Which modern application is the best fit to order for the car? Thanks for any input on this issue.
Not trying to talk you out of a mini starter but.
Sounds like a common "solenoid issue".
Poor things get all the abuse from heat, have to engage the bendix, tell the starter to spin, send voltage accordingly.
No wonder the starter will out-live 2 - 3 solenoids.
If you go this route of solenoid only, look for Heavy Duty, with a brown end cap.
That is ceramic, little more money.
But handles heat better.
Tip:
Take a photo of all wire locations to the solenoid before removal.
Tag wires location with masking tape & a Sharpie.
If you do decide to go with a modern hi-torque starter, I'd be interested in your old starter... (i.e., don't trade it in as a core if it's got the '72 numbers on it!)
What do you really know about the engagement of the stock GM starter and the flex plate??? What are the actual symptoms that you are experiencing? If we know the symptoms (all of them...not just that it won't start well), we have a good chance of narrowing down to the real issue at hand. Could be JUST the solenoid; could be a bad Bendix drive on the end of the starter (not a starter issue); coould be a bad grounding cable: etc. etc. The symptoms will guide us.
P..S. If your starter is spinning every time you hit the key, neither the starter nor the solenoid are your problems. Most likely issues are the Bendix drive or some damaged teeth on the starter drive gear or the flexplate.
If you do decide to go with a modern hi-torque starter, I'd be interested in your old starter... (i.e., don't trade it in as a core if it's got the '72 numbers on it!)
Not going to trade it in for a core. I will repair it and put it away to keep with the car. I just want to upgrade it so the car will start without the common solenoid issues.
If a starter "spins", the solenoid has properly sent power to it. That is the only action that the solenoid can perform. Not the solenoid.
If starter spins, without engaging the drive gear to the flywheel/flexplate, the possibilities for problems were listed in my previous post: Bendix bad (most likely), bad starter drive gear, bad tooth or teeth on the flywheel/flexplate.
The gear is not kicking out and engaging with the teeth on the flexplate. The car is an automatic transmission equipped car so it does not have a flywheel. The starter spins everytime the key is turned, once and a while it does engage,the starter will start the engine smoothly with no grinding,
You are looking for the Remy RS41117 starter that has the "R" terminal but that part may be hard to find. Some clones on Ebay but starting to get pricy.
If you can get by without the "R" terminal (points ignition resistor bypass), you can use the Remy 96206. These are about $80 at Rock Auto. They require specific special bolts to mount them as the nose cone is different than original. This is what I am running and it works great even with my sidepipe headers. They are LIGHT!
The gear is not kicking out and engaging with the teeth on the flexplate. The car is an automatic transmission equipped car so it does not have a flywheel. The starter spins everytime the key is turned, once and a while it does engage,the starter will start the engine smoothly with no grinding,
Bendix is not kicking out he says.
Starter spins every time he says.
Engagement of bendix is smooth when it does happen.
Solenoid.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; May 18, 2025 at 11:05 AM.
There is a way to test the solenoid by using a jumper wire at the terminals.
The test will energize the solenoid forcing the bendix in & out every time you contact the test wire.
The starter will not spin, just the bendix pops out.
The solenoid has multi duties and one of them is to move the bendix pivot arm inside.
The Bendix drive is supposed to be 'locking' in one direction of spin, so that it will drive the ring gear, but slip once the engine spins up. The locking clutch on your Bendix drive has failed and not longer locks as it should.
Do what you wish....
Modern Starter Upgrade ?
