Starter recomendations?

[Doomed]

Hey boys,
 
            the stock starter for my 440 just will not work, is there a better up grade, such as a lightweight high torque aftermarket starter that I can move on to? I do have headers, so it will need to clear them. Also, is there a way to disassemble the stock starter to get it off so I do not have to pull the header and engine. What a pain. I am on the verge of getting my Chally running, and your threads have been very helpful. Thanks.

Kyle.

[67Vette427]

Get a mini starter if you want some extra space. What I do is loosen up the flange bolts when the motor is cool and swing the header over to get the started out. If the gaskets didn't tear you can probably use them again. You can always get copper gaskets too. I like the stock starters, never had many problems with them.. good luck

[MEK-Dangerfield]

It depends on your headers really. I was down this same painful road once. I had to hit the starter with a large screwdriver to get it going, so I knew I was in trouble.  I had NO choice but to remove my Hedman headers. That big old torpedo starter was just too big to get out any other way. For what it's worth, I went with the new light weight mini-starter. It is much shorter and easier to deal with, but it is as wide, if not wider than the stock starter. I had to "modify" one header tube because of that. I always like to swing a hammer anyway. 


  Mike

[67Vette427]

I hate having to use the hammer  :bricks1:On the Hemi Challenger the starter was a bit** I even had to remove the left torsion bar and reinstall it after the header was in place.... Don't buy Hookers if you run a Hemi... I had Hedmans and didn't have much problem, a little but not bad.

[Doomed]

Thanks guys.

Kyle.

[challenger72rt]

When my 440 was built, we used the stock starter, but without a heatshield, so when I ran the car for a while, then shut'r down, it wouldn't restart for a while.  We swapped out for a 2.5 HP starter...it's smaller, lighter and much stronger, and I haven't had a problem with it since...and it's been almost 10 years!