Tiny Starter???
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 16,950
Likes: 0
From: Stafford, Virginia Kittah, Kittah, Kittah...
Tiny Starter???
Well I had to order a new starter because nobody stocked a Delco in the area and because the dealer wanted $450 for a new one, I went with a Bosch unit from Pep Boys for 1/3 the cost... I sure hope I don't regret this decision later... 
Anyway, the starter comes in yesterday and I open the box because it feels like there isn't a starter inside... I asked the guy behind the counter to doublecheck the part number because it looks like the starter for a 4 banger... This thing is tiny and weighs maybe half of what I was expecting...
The rebuilt starter from Bosch looks like it's brand new though, not a mark on the case like you usually see with rebuilt items... One interesting thing about the starters when I was calling around to the dealers, they told me that all these Delco starters were brand new, not available as rebuilt units... Seemed kinda strange to me since all GM parts are usually reman units...
Anyway, the starter comes in yesterday and I open the box because it feels like there isn't a starter inside... I asked the guy behind the counter to doublecheck the part number because it looks like the starter for a 4 banger... This thing is tiny and weighs maybe half of what I was expecting...
The rebuilt starter from Bosch looks like it's brand new though, not a mark on the case like you usually see with rebuilt items... One interesting thing about the starters when I was calling around to the dealers, they told me that all these Delco starters were brand new, not available as rebuilt units... Seemed kinda strange to me since all GM parts are usually reman units...
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
The pepboys guy is on crack. It's not brand new, unless they don't have a reman source yet.
since 1992 (at least, might be earlier, someone confirm), the Vette has used a mini gear reduction starter. It's lighter and stronger than the big heavy bastards from days of old.
These are actually a Denso design. Very reliable.
since 1992 (at least, might be earlier, someone confirm), the Vette has used a mini gear reduction starter. It's lighter and stronger than the big heavy bastards from days of old.
These are actually a Denso design. Very reliable.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 16,950
Likes: 0
From: Stafford, Virginia Kittah, Kittah, Kittah...
Originally Posted by bogus
The pepboys guy is on crack. It's not brand new, unless they don't have a reman source yet.
since 1992 (at least, might be earlier, someone confirm), the Vette has used a mini gear reduction starter. It's lighter and stronger than the big heavy bastards from days of old.
These are actually a Denso design. Very reliable.
since 1992 (at least, might be earlier, someone confirm), the Vette has used a mini gear reduction starter. It's lighter and stronger than the big heavy bastards from days of old.
These are actually a Denso design. Very reliable.
Interesting tidbit about the mini gear reduction starter, maybe that's why it was $450 from the dealer... I'm used to seeing those mini starters in performance catalogs like Summit Racing and the such...
I know my old TPI powered 88 Camaro had a big pig starter on it, so maybe it was 92 when the LT1 came out then...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 16,950
Likes: 0
From: Stafford, Virginia Kittah, Kittah, Kittah...
Originally Posted by Spankyellow
When I got the small one at the Zone I asked for a 91. It is the small one with the solenoid on the bottom. 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,161
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
88 was the first year for the OE ministarter, very little difference between it and the one that came on the LT1 to my knowledge.
84-87 starter is about 2x the size and weight.
84-87 starter is about 2x the size and weight.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Originally Posted by vader86
88 was the first year for the OE ministarter, very little difference between it and the one that came on the LT1 to my knowledge.
84-87 starter is about 2x the size and weight.
84-87 starter is about 2x the size and weight.
and yes, it's about half the mass of that big fat bitch...
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 16,950
Likes: 0
From: Stafford, Virginia Kittah, Kittah, Kittah...
Originally Posted by vader86
88 was the first year for the OE ministarter, very little difference between it and the one that came on the LT1 to my knowledge.
84-87 starter is about 2x the size and weight.
84-87 starter is about 2x the size and weight.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski