Hi,

Took a look at the situation under the car with respect to changing out the starter. What with pre cats, coolant tubes and the fresh air to the main cat is appears that the starter is one tough puppy to get out. Even after I break loose the coolant tubes clamp on top of the cross member is it even possible to get the starter past all that crap ? Any links to someone that has done this for real. The Haynes manual is no help at all. No suprise there. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Don :banghead:

 

Don,

sorry I cant help you out with the starter,

but I wanted to say hi I am originally from Central VT but am in the Navy and stationed in Cali for now.

 

It's a really tight fit but it can be squeezed out.

When my exhaust system was stock, the hardest part for me, on my 86, was getting to the front brace that is bolted to the block/nose of the starter.

I suspect the 87 is pretty much the same but if not, you may have to drop the exhaust. Be sure to disconnect the battery so you won't see a fireworks display.

Best I can do.

Jake

 

Don, I was faced with the same delimma when I changed the starter in my 86Z51. I used some large tie wraps and tied off the tranny coolant lines and the cat air pipes to the side. If I remenber correctly, I tied them to the exhaust pipe (cold of course) . Then I was able to slide the starter past all that stuff. I then removed the wires from the solenoid . Putting the new one in was the reverse. I also found it much easier to attach the wires to the solenoid before setting the starter back up in place so that you can get a wrench on them. You must support the starter some way while you are doing this. One other thing. Once the starter is in, you must set the bendix to ring gear clearance . If you don't the starter bendix may bind up and make a lot of noise and likely ruin the bendix and /or ring gear. To do this, remove the auto tranny converter cover and / or manual clutch cover. Then , manually extend the bendix so that it meshes with the ring gear. The correct clearance is obtained when you can slide the end of a paper clip between the tip of the engaged bendix gear tooth and the corresponding valley of the ring gear. Use the shims that should come with the starter to get the correct spacing. This is not as complicated as it sounds but very necessary. One way to avoid the shimming is to have your original starter rebuilt. Hope this helps. :cheers:

 

You don't have to remove any coolant tubes. Just the plate under the starter. You can pry the stuff out of the way enough to get the starter in and out. Then push it back.

I slipped with the racket and broke the knock sensor. Be careful with that. It's right there.

BIG JIM