Starter Installation Help

[bordin34]

I'm in the middle of replacing the starter on my Charger and I have a couple problems. My real problem is the removal of the old starter. It is a full size starter and is impossible to remove from my 400 with headers. In my infinite wisdom I decided to try to take the starter out in pieces. So I first removed those long bolts on the end of it to try to just remove the plate at the very end. Needless to say that only succeeded in making the starter longer. So next I decided to try to remove the headers on the drivers side, I unbolt all of the bolts. Also unbolt the drivers side motor mounts and jack the motor up, headers still don't come out, the power steering box is in the way. So I remove the pressure hose in hopes to gain a little bit more room and apparently there are some o-rings on it that are now toast. My next idea was to remove the passenger side motor mounts and jack up the entire engine. So I remove the bolt by the alternator very easily, next was the further back one, bu the headers are in the way and I can't get enough leverage to loosen the bolt. I tried loosening the big bolt on the bottom of the mount and nothing it went nowhere. So here I am currently with 3 bolts to the motor mounts removed and the starter in pieces. Any advice, I'm thinking I might have to pull the motor once I get that last bolt out.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I would think unbolting the headers on the driver's side and pulling them downward and forward would allow you to drop the starter out the bottom.   

[4 speed fish]

I would cut the header.After you replace the starter,I would take the header to a muffler shop and they could reroute the header tubes so you have better clearance.I did this.THen I sent out the header to have coated to match the other one.That cost me 100.00 plus 80 to the muffler shop.Do one pipe at a time.He will spot weld it take it home and test fit it.If you headers are not coated this is a good way to do it.

[bordin34]

My problem is that the headers are attached with studs not bolts. So I cant get the headers out enough to get them off the studs even with the motor raised.

[Oldschool]

Can you get a stud remover onto the studs? That might just solve your problem--pull the studs and move the headers, then re-install them.       

[Chryco Psycho]

Fun Huh 
your best bet may be to get the passenger motor mount loose & lift the whole engine up & to the passenger side to gain clearance
if you have headman headers the mini starter will not fit in there either .
 I would NOT remove the studs from the head , they have probably been there for 35 + years & may break off causing more work yet
 would removing the steering column help you ? it is far easier to remove

[73EStroker]

Bordin - my son's 440 73 Rallye Charger has Hedman headers. If you have Hedmans then the only starter that fits is a /6 starter. Little thing but we put a brand new one in and so far 9 years later it is still good. I am only going from memory here but I think if we had to take his starter out I would drop the torsion bar. I know I will do that in my challenger with TTI headers. So much easier than farting around with headers.

[bordin34]

My headers have no markings on them, I hope they aren't headmens. I already have the passenger side mount bolts removed I am now working on the drivers side to jack the entire motor out, I may also remove the column.

[bordin34]

I finally got the old big starter out and the new one in. I had to take apart the old starter though. I really hope I dont have hedman headers. I still have to rebolt the headers. What went bad on the motor was one of the pickups on the commutator shorted it still barely worked because there are about 20 of them.

[bordin34]

Apparently whatever brand of headers I have do not work with a mini starter or at least do not fit over the studs with a mini starter.

[bordin34]

So I have given up on getting the mini starter to fit with header. I am now looking to buy another full size starter. For the full size starter, do I have to remove the headers entirely that is my problem with the mini I have to dent the headers but in order to remove the headers I need to drop the center link and take out my steering box and shaft. So what would the best starter for me be? I read somewhere that the slant 6 one was shorter, would that be easier to install and work fine for me?

[Strawdawg]

earlier in this thread someone posted that this worked for them...

[bordin34]

Thanks, I forgot where I read that and copied and pasted this from another site.

[bordin34]

The /6 Starter finally came today and I tried to install it, its not going in without at least dropping the center link. What special tool do I need to get the center link off the idler pitman and tie rods?

[the_engineers]

Pickle Fork