Starter problems with headers
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 10,878
Likes: 1
St. Jude Donor '07
Nope. You can keep your '85 starter. You'll want to reroute the wiring to it. Do NOT use a head shield. That holds the heat in the starter. If you have ceramic headers, you won't have a problem.
I just did this with TPIS headers. Very much a PITA to do. Get ready to replace your dipstick tube. Be very careful pulling it, or you'll be dropping your oil pan to pound out the stump.
Lots of Aerokroil I PB Blaster for a couple nites before attempting this.
I just did this with TPIS headers. Very much a PITA to do. Get ready to replace your dipstick tube. Be very careful pulling it, or you'll be dropping your oil pan to pound out the stump.
Lots of Aerokroil I PB Blaster for a couple nites before attempting this.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 24,460
Likes: 7
From: sw Ohio
Hey thanks guys. Yeah I have Lingenfelter ceramic coated headers, longtubes. I didnt actually test the clearance yet, but I've been told to change the starter to the later model. Yes i'm going to make sure all the wiring is kept off of them, thats why i'm buying new wire separaters cause mine are trashed.
The bolts have already been broken loose a few weeks ago, but I have PB blaster just in case. Yeah I had to be careful with the dipstick when taking out the stock manifolds. I angled mine forward and then up and didnt even touch the stick.
The bolts have already been broken loose a few weeks ago, but I have PB blaster just in case. Yeah I had to be careful with the dipstick when taking out the stock manifolds. I angled mine forward and then up and didnt even touch the stick.
Last edited by Demonic85; Sep 14, 2007 at 10:47 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,836
Likes: 337
From: Database Error Indiana
If you do the small starter now, it may save some time and labor in the future. A year from now if the starter dies, do you want to pull the exhaust apart to fix a starter?? I went with the small one. $160 for a 90 Vette starter and it went in, no wiring hassel, no heat problems, no problems.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,139
Likes: 1,727
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
You will save time and money later by upgrading now, thats why I did it.
It'll be a real PITA to get that starter out in the future with headers on.
It'll be a real PITA to get that starter out in the future with headers on.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,191
Likes: 243
From: Guelph Ontario
Hi guys---my 86 coupe automatic would not start the other day---and my radio (which is powered right off the alternator was not holding memory)--I thought possibly and alternator problem--but apparently my starter was grounded out and sending back up thru alternator. This is the 3rd starter this year---no headers--slight mods to motor--first starter over heated and the second starter fell apart inside (jingling around) replaced under warranty--now this one--we are going to try and install a Mr. Gasket heat sheald--like a metal canopy---I value you input---any suggestions?????
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 11,259
Likes: 6
From: dfw TX
Moderatrix
Cruise-In IV Veteran
I used to have this exact problem with my 85 with headers, I invested in a high torque tilton mini starter and Ive never had another problem. Prior to that I was going through about one a year.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 16,836
Likes: 337
From: Database Error Indiana
Hi guys---my 86 coupe automatic would not start the other day---and my radio (which is powered right off the alternator was not holding memory)--I thought possibly and alternator problem--but apparently my starter was grounded out and sending back up thru alternator. This is the 3rd starter this year---no headers--slight mods to motor--first starter over heated and the second starter fell apart inside (jingling around) replaced under warranty--now this one--we are going to try and install a Mr. Gasket heat sheald--like a metal canopy---I value you input---any suggestions?????
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,715
Likes: 27
From: Kempner Texas
On my 86 with TPIS long tube headers, the heat was killing my starter solenoid. I bought a solenoid heat shield from AutoZone for about $6.
The shield bolts directly to the solenoid and solved my problem. I'm running the full size starter, and I can just barely remove it with the header in place. A really tight fit, but it's do-able.
Jake
The shield bolts directly to the solenoid and solved my problem. I'm running the full size starter, and I can just barely remove it with the header in place. A really tight fit, but it's do-able.
Jake
Advanced
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
I recently installed a Summit Denso style gear reducer starter in my '85. It was only $140 and was made in Canada. I'm not running headers, but this starter is way smaller than the factory '85 behemoth and allows you to rotate it in five positions for clearance. Works great and an easy install, I didn't even need to shim it. Because it is a gear reducer starter, the starter motor spins really fast and it sounds like I am starting a Cessna.