The starter I just pulled has 10 splines on the pinion. The one I'm wanting to put in has the same spline spacing but only has 7 or 8 splines. The whole pinion is smaller so I think it will work but does anybody know?

 

Starter groups are as follows 79-82 then 82-85. Being that at a certain vin# in 82 they switched.

I do know that I used both year types on a 80 motor when doing compression testing and they both worked.

 

I guess this is why they call it "shade tree". We'll see if it'll work in about five minutes.

 

It will work. Speaking for manual trans, all N/A flywheels are the same diameter, and all N/A starters bolt in at the same spot in the trans, so therefore all starters interchange.

Some are 8-tooth, some are 10-tooth, some are 11-tooth. They all work with each other through the magic of a very casual gear mesh.

I have used FB starters in an '80 trans and have used an SA and an FC starter in an FB trans. They all work just fine, even though it doesn't look like it would.

Hmm... the progression of the starter/trans setup in my Series 3 is as follows:

FB trans/FB starter
SA trans/FB starter
SA trans/SA starter
FB trans #2/FB starter
FB trans #2/FC starter
FB trans #3/FC starter
FC trans/FC starter

Somewhere along the way I put in an early engine with an '81-82 flywheel for a couple months, too.

Everything works with everything. Ain't it grand?

 

Nope. Old school starter with New School engine doesn't work (unless this starter's bad but it's supposed to be good.)

Oh Oh Oh an FC starter will work?

::jumps up, runs to closet::

Oh I guess an auto starter won't work.

Hey on a slightly related note, will it work in reverse? If I hook the neg to the pos and vice versa will it try to turn the engine over the other way?

 

What do you mean by it doesn't work? Does it just click? Does it sound like it binds? Does it just freewheel?

 

The one that was in there to begin with just freewheels. This other one I just put in it sounds like it's binding up (grunk grunk grunk) but heh now I wonder if I swapped the pos and neg on the solenoid.

 

Pretty sure now I didn't do that.

 

Pos battery calbe gos to the starter, neg to the block, then the ignition wire to the solinoid, simple. The one that's spinning has a bad bendix/solinoid. If the other one is engaging, but not turning the engine over, see if you can turn the engine over by hand. If the engine turns over, check the flywheel for worn teeth.

 

On the solenoid, there are two terminals, one the pos battery cable hooks up to and the other is connected to ground (at least it's connected to the body of the starter which is grounded). Which is which?

 

Connect the pos cable to the outboard lug, the other one is a jumer for the starter and nothing is connected to it.

 

if it bolts up it should work.

 

Like so? (Can you guys see this?)

 

Pic isn't working

 

The spade connector at the center top is for the wire from the ignition switch. The large circled one is for the positive cable. Nothing else should be attached.

 

Yeah ok this starter is just siezed or something. It's hooked up correctly.

I'll have to finish her up on tuesday. Or tomorrow morning possibly.

 

I beg to differ. The starter on my car has never been off or changed its orginal. It has three wires.
Now I had to take this picture with my cellphone with no flash but if you look you can clearly see that the nut that the doctor says shouldnt have a wire clearly does. then there is the other nut that goes to the battery. Then the small spade connection that goes to the ignition.

I have no idea where the 3rd wire goes as it goes up into the harness.

 

nice picture....