454 Starter Blues
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Athol NY
454 Starter Blues
My '73 454 eats starters, I have to have it rebuild it every other year. Yes, the battery is fresh, original exhaust manifolds, not modified, and yes the heat shield is there. Is this common? Are the after market starters that much better? Thanks! 
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
So your going to a rebuilder? Either they are just patching them up and over looking something or the problem is either a bad ground or weak/bad battery.
What does it do when its going bad? Is it a flywheel issue grinding the drive up?
What does it do when its going bad? Is it a flywheel issue grinding the drive up?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 958
Likes: 1
From: In the Beautiful Shenandoah Valley of VA
Originally Posted by R 73 454
My '73 454 eats starters, I have to have it rebuild it every other year. Yes, the battery is fresh, original exhaust manifolds, not modified, and yes the heat shield is there. Is this common? Are the after market starters that much better? Thanks!
Make sure that you have the rear brace installed on the back of your starter as well. This is a small piece of metal attached between the top "through bolt" (that's why there is a small stud there) that holds the entire starter together and a bolt on the engine block (typically there is also a ground cable and heat shield attached here as well). Turning these big engines over really stresses a starter and having this brace in place strengthens the whole assembly, which makes a considerable difference in how long the unit can last. Less flexing equals longer life.
When I was modifying these engines in the past, I actually had starters shatter the aluminum nose piece of the starter from the stress of 20 degrees initial timing. Zip Corvette and other sponsors here carry this part fairly inexpensively.
Steve
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 1
I'm on starter number 3 in 10 or so years on my 454. Last one turned fine - it was the solenoid that gave out, in the "on" position no less.
I'm doing around 1000 miles per year (I know, I know, but I drove it yesterday), so you can compare and contrast your results.
I'm doing around 1000 miles per year (I know, I know, but I drove it yesterday), so you can compare and contrast your results.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
I found that the starter doesn't engage proper with the flywheel, a starter is suppose to engage the flywheel then start turning. Our starters are too far back from the flywheel so they start spinning then engage and do not pass all the way through the flywheel causing the starter drive gear and the ring gear to eat each other.
I realize this is not your problem but even the aftermarket starters are not possitioned close enough to the ring gear.
Guys while laying under the car take a screw driver and pry the start gear out and into the flywheel, It should pass all the way through or close to it. Most engage about 1/3 of the way.
This is wrong and will eat starter drives.
I realize this is not your problem but even the aftermarket starters are not possitioned close enough to the ring gear.
Guys while laying under the car take a screw driver and pry the start gear out and into the flywheel, It should pass all the way through or close to it. Most engage about 1/3 of the way.
This is wrong and will eat starter drives.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 253
Likes: 0
From: Athol NY
Hmmm, to all the replies: yes a trickle of oil, but usually gets burned off real quick, yes front brace is there, and grounds seem tight! It starts off as a 'heat soak' sloooow crank, which gets progressively worse as the summer wears on. Engagement with flex plate gear seems OK. I've been trying to keep car all original, but am seriously contemplating the mini- gear reduction starter. Was curious as to comments on the longevity. Thanks again! 
