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Ordered starter from G.M. Parts Direct

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Old Dec 4, 2004 | 10:38 AM
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Default Ordered starter from G.M. Parts Direct

As per my thread last week, I got a P/N for the new starter straight from the General. All well and good so I hunted locally for the part. Even with my Corvette Owners Club of San Diego discount the local dealer wanted $235 or so plus CA sales tax of course.

GM Parts Direct was $161 or so plus shipping for a total of $201 so I ordered it right away. That was last monday and yesterday, I was checking my bank account. It seemed that I was never charged for the starter.

So obviously my next web search was back to GM parts direct website and when I looked up my account, it said "Special Ordered" next to the starter order.

What gives?? Who the HE** actually MAKES the starter if GM has to 'special order' it?
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Old Dec 4, 2004 | 10:46 AM
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That's one of the problems with Parts Direct. Sometime's it's worth it to me when my Authorized dealer can get the part that day or the next. I don't pay shipping, but their wholesale is more $$.

Post some pics of the starter when you get it. Is it the one like Paul67 is using?
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Old Dec 4, 2004 | 10:53 AM
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Originally Posted by SanDiegoPaul
What gives?? Who the HE** actually MAKES the starter if GM has to 'special order' it?
You're dealing with a dealer, not with GM.
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Old Dec 4, 2004 | 11:02 AM
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Check the print on the box carefully. That starter is made in Taiwan. By whom I do not know. But to reiterate from the other thread, it is a quality part and works very well.

GM dealers will not normally stock such parts as they are low volume and inventory ties up money. PartsDirect states that they are a GM dealer (perhaps virtual?) so that holds true for them as well. A regional depot system is used for this type of part and many others as well. When I worked for a GM dealer in mid-Canada the parts came from Montreal, Quebec or Woodstock, Ontario. Arrival time was 1-2 days. Occasionally that would stretch to 3-5 days if the depot was in the USA. I do not know how PartsDirect operates but would surmise that the depot where that starter is located is a fair geographical distance from their distribution centre. Hence the delay. Depots will NOT ship directly to an individual customer.

I am not suggesting that GM is assembling one for you in Taiwan .

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Old Dec 4, 2004 | 11:11 AM
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Have you asked if the local dealer can match or at least come close to GM Parts Direct price (including shipping). Based on the pricing you supplied this starter probably wholesales for $150. The advantage a dealer has is that they get more than one part at a time and thier shipping cost to get the item(s) to them is way lower than someone getting one item shipped UPS. The problem with many local dealers is that they have a minimum mark up which they will not go under, 25-33%. This minimum is usally for garages. Of course the backyard mechanic pays full list price which has an even higher mark up. I can understand someone charging more to keep an item in stock. They got to provide a shelf for it. Sometimes things work in their favor. They have it in stock and GM has a price increase, I don't think GM cuts prices, so they now get to sell it at the higher price.
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Old Dec 4, 2004 | 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by mandm1200
Have you asked if the local dealer can match or at least come close to GM Parts Direct price (including shipping). Based on the pricing you supplied this starter probably wholesales for $150. The advantage a dealer has is that they get more than one part at a time and thier shipping cost to get the item(s) to them is way lower than someone getting one item shipped UPS. The problem with many local dealers is that they have a minimum mark up which they will not go under, 25-33%. This minimum is usally for garages. Of course the backyard mechanic pays full list price which has an even higher mark up. I can understand someone charging more to keep an item in stock. They got to provide a shelf for it. Sometimes things work in their favor. They have it in stock and GM has a price increase, I don't think GM cuts prices, so they now get to sell it at the higher price.
I didn't ask for more of a discount than our standard Corvette Club (COCSD) one, which is supposed to be 10% off parts (and labor, which doesn't apply here).

The frustrating thing here is that the dealer could have gotten me the part same day! All they had to do is pick up in town. And I know who the local GM wholesaler is, because when I ran a shop in SD, I was a direct purchaser from them. But I can't now that I'm not in the business any more :o :o
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Old Dec 4, 2004 | 01:08 PM
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Default That starter wouldn't work for me.

I have a 168 tooth 14" dia flywheel and gave up trying to fit that starter up (#12361146). I tried moving the solenoid to every position possible and burned several days trying attempting to find a position to make it work (only 1 set of mounting holes will line up). When i set it up for comparision to the stock starter the Bendix gear centerline was 'bout 1/2" higher/closer to flywheel due to shorter mount http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/445470/4. I measured correct 0.10" cleareance front to rear but could not get 0.040" clearance on ends of meshing teeth - used a battery charger to kick-out the bendix gear. I don't have the time or energy to remove the bellhousing (and trans) to follow up on this now.
I guess what i'm asking is if u get it to work please post how to make it fit.
BTW i bought mine from Scroggin Dickey (http://www.sdpc2000.com) for $170 no tax. But sdpc2000 now requires FEDEX to get a signature for delivery and that dosen't work out for me. If ur interested in my unused/used GM ministarter send me an PM.
Good luck. cardo0
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Old Dec 4, 2004 | 04:30 PM
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Default AnyOne else have problems with that starter?

Originally Posted by cardo0
I guess what i'm asking is if u get it to work please post how to make it fit. BTW i bought mine from Scroggin Dickey (http://www.sdpc2000.com) for $170 no tax. But sdpc2000 now requires FEDEX to get a signature for delivery and that dosen't work out for me. Good luck. cardo0
Now I'm all nervous! Dunno which flex plate is in there. and I'd hate like heck to have that same problem.

Anyone else have problems? AFAIK the flex plate is standard issue for a Turbo 350.
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Old Dec 4, 2004 | 06:14 PM
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Default Look at ur starter mounting bolts.

Originally Posted by SanDiegoPaul
Now I'm all nervous! Dunno which flex plate is in there. and I'd hate like heck to have that same problem.
Anyone else have problems? AFAIK the flex plate is standard issue for a Turbo 350.
The 2 starter mounting bolts for use on a 168 tooth 14" flywheel are staggered - not in same line.
The 2 mounting bolts for the 153 tooth 12 & 3/4" flywheel are straight or lined up. U can see this from under the engine.
Most small blocks are drilled for both and u can change just the nose on the starter to go from one size to the other. That mini (#12361146) is advertized to fit both but i had no luck and ran out of time for this.
I wish u better luck Paul. cardo0 :o
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Old Dec 5, 2004 | 07:59 PM
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Originally Posted by mandm1200
Have you asked if the local dealer can match or at least come close to GM Parts Direct price (including shipping). Based on the pricing you supplied this starter probably wholesales for $150. The advantage a dealer has is that they get more than one part at a time and thier shipping cost to get the item(s) to them is way lower than someone getting one item shipped UPS. The problem with many local dealers is that they have a minimum mark up which they will not go under, 25-33%. This minimum is usally for garages. Of course the backyard mechanic pays full list price which has an even higher mark up. I can understand someone charging more to keep an item in stock. They got to provide a shelf for it. Sometimes things work in their favor. They have it in stock and GM has a price increase, I don't think GM cuts prices, so they now get to sell it at the higher price.

I asked a friend of mine who works at the Chevy dealer if he could help me out of the same part number. His price was a lot higher than Gm Parts Direct . When he showed them a catalog from I believe it was Pace Performance Parts they said they would honor their price.

I still don't know what I'm going to do. I do know that I need one, the Heat soak is getting really old!
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Old Dec 5, 2004 | 08:36 PM
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GM came up with a wonderful high-torque starter for the 502 BB crate engine. I picked up a rebuilt one for around $120. It only has the staggered mounting holes, and it looks more like a regular GM starter than the one in the pictures above. It uses slightly shorter bolts for installation, and the instructions say it needs to be shimmed on older engines, but the only way it would work on my engine was with no shims. It is supposed to be designed to eliminate the heat-soak problem.
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Old Dec 5, 2004 | 10:41 PM
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Originally Posted by I'm Batman
GM came up with a wonderful high-torque starter for the 502 BB crate engine. I picked up a rebuilt one for around $120. It only has the staggered mounting holes, and it looks more like a regular GM starter than the one in the pictures above. It uses slightly shorter bolts for installation, and the instructions say it needs to be shimmed on older engines, but the only way it would work on my engine was with no shims. It is supposed to be designed to eliminate the heat-soak problem.
Hmmm that sounds like a winner too. what's the part number?
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Old Dec 6, 2004 | 03:08 PM
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I'm not sure - the rebuilder's box is still in the basement, I'll see what it says. It's been discussed in a few threads on here, so a search might turn up the part number, too.
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Old Dec 6, 2004 | 03:20 PM
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Ordered part # 9000852 for my Ram Jet 350 because it was recommended. Got it for almost $200 at gmpartsdirect.com. It's the Permanent magnetic gear reduction starter thats lighter weight and more powerful. However I ordered it with my firebird headlight actuators and they're on backorder so none of my stuff has shipped

Bry
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Old Dec 6, 2004 | 05:01 PM
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Originally Posted by I'm Batman
GM came up with a wonderful high-torque starter for the 502 BB crate engine. I picked up a rebuilt one for around $120. It only has the staggered mounting holes, and it looks more like a regular GM starter than the one in the pictures above. It uses slightly shorter bolts for installation, and the instructions say it needs to be shimmed on older engines, but the only way it would work on my engine was with no shims. It is supposed to be designed to eliminate the heat-soak problem.
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Old Dec 8, 2004 | 04:28 PM
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Okay, I had the price a bit off - my rebuilt starter was $200 at Autozone. The GM part number is 9000852. http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/perfpart...ion=pp#9000852
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Old Dec 8, 2004 | 04:36 PM
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Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Okay, I had the price a bit off - my rebuilt starter was $200 at Autozone. The GM part number is 9000852. http://www.gmgoodwrench.com/perfpart...ion=pp#9000852
That starter also came on most 454 pickups in the mid 90's (just before vortec). I got mine from autozone a few years ago for $150. Guess they went up. It's a wonderful starter.
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