85 Vette starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 246
Likes: 1
From: Elk Plain WA
St. Jude Donor '11
Just Did a Starter R&R on an 86 4+3
Get front and rear up on jack stands.
Remove the entire exhaust system and drag it out of your way in one piece (3 bolts each side to get the exhaust loose from the headers, 2 bolts in a hanger infront of the cat, 1 in a hanger on the Y-pipe and the 2 in the rear hanging the mufflers). Reason: there just isn't room otherwise). While doing this be lucky and don't break any fasteners. I was lucky, but I don't drive mine in the wet unless I get caught out in a shower and none were frozen.
Then it's easy to get the 2 bolts out of the starter and rotate the starter to a position to get the 2 wires loose.
Also there is a support braket you have to undo at the front of the starter.
If it sounds intimidating, it really wasn't that bad!
Remove the entire exhaust system and drag it out of your way in one piece (3 bolts each side to get the exhaust loose from the headers, 2 bolts in a hanger infront of the cat, 1 in a hanger on the Y-pipe and the 2 in the rear hanging the mufflers). Reason: there just isn't room otherwise). While doing this be lucky and don't break any fasteners. I was lucky, but I don't drive mine in the wet unless I get caught out in a shower and none were frozen.
Then it's easy to get the 2 bolts out of the starter and rotate the starter to a position to get the 2 wires loose.
Also there is a support braket you have to undo at the front of the starter.
If it sounds intimidating, it really wasn't that bad!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 216
Likes: 4
From: Linton Indiana
Did you mean 2 exhaust connections? I hate working with rusty bolts because I'm sure I'll break at least one off! I assume the 2 bolts are the starter bolts on the bottom. Probably a good idea to check the teeth on the flex plate too?
Last edited by joe wilson; May 14, 2009 at 07:58 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 804
Likes: 5
From: Fresno CA
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Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
After rereading mikey's post, not sure you have to worry about the fuel lines. Been a while since I pulled an old style starter.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,220
Likes: 446
From: Overland Park Kansas
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
Changing the starter was probably the easiest thing I've ever done on the Corvette. Didn't take much longer than changing the oil.
Great move going to the mini starter!
Great move going to the mini starter!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 216
Likes: 4
From: Linton Indiana
Thanks guys, you've given me the confidence to get the job started. Just waiting to get a day or two off from work and figuring out a way to get the car high enough in the air (I'm kinda big) to work under it.