light weight starter (Page 1/2)
mcguiver3 JAN 19, 05:08 PM
I was prepared to make the swap to a light weight starter for my 88 Formula autocross car in an effort to pare some more weight from the car this year.
What I did not expect was how much the stock unit weighs.
I put it on my scale and lo and behold 14#.
Some of the smaller units I've researched were in the 11-13# range.
So, I'm thinking it does not make much sense to spend the money for 2-3 #.
Is there something out there below 10#?
Patrick JAN 19, 05:28 PM

quote
Originally posted by mcguiver3:

Is there something out there below 10#?



A year or so ago I went to the wreckers to buy two newer light-weight starters... one for my 2.8 Formula (for the same reason as you) and one for my 2.5 '84. I knew there were actually two different sizes of these newer starters depending on the amperage. I found one of each, one noticeably larger than the other, although both were considerably smaller than the original starters on our Fieros. Turned out that one of the starters was faulty (so I returned it for a credit), but I used the remaining one on my '84 as its starter was toast. The replacement starter works very well.

So why didn't I pick up another newer starter to replace the faulty one that I took back? Because the current starter on my Formula works perfectly, and I could see it wasn't worth replacing it for a very minor reduction in weight. However, if and when that starter packs it in, it is a no-brainer to replace it with a newer lighter-weight version.

[EDIT] I re-found this thread HERE that has some good info in it, including weights. I suspect the smaller of the two starters that I had picked up also weighed just over 6 lbs.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 01-19-2015).]

theogre JAN 19, 05:53 PM
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...120111-2-108710.html

shim notes
See my Cave, Starter

Change to lighter battery for race "track" is easy and can save more weight.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave (It's also at the top and bottom of every forum page...)

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 01-19-2015).]

mcguiver3 JAN 20, 08:04 AM
Saw that post but I did not see any reference to what the weights actually were.
The battery swap is being considered, Braille may be the unit of choice.
I was just hoping to see more of a weight difference from old to new/smaller starter.
fierosound JAN 20, 08:37 AM

quote
Originally posted by mcguiver3:

Saw that post but I did not see any reference to what the weights actually were.
The battery swap is being considered, Braille may be the unit of choice.
I was just hoping to see more of a weight difference from old to new/smaller starter.



From Patrick's link to Inferno's post (quote)

"Now here is the biggest question most may want to know the Weight difference.

2.8L Starter Weight is 13.8 lbs.

3.5L Starter Weight is 6.4 lbs"

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3.4L Supercharged 87 GT Click me
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mcguiver3 JAN 20, 10:15 AM
So,
2.8L Starter Weight is 13.8 lbs.

3.5L Starter Weight is 6.4 lbs"

But the 3.5L needs a wire adapter plug?

is there a similar unit that does not need that plug?
If so what did it come out of?

6.4# is attractive and I would do that in a heart beat.
mitchjl22 JAN 20, 01:26 PM
We put a 1997-2008 grrand prix gear reduction starter in my dads car. No shim, just bolt in. Sounds cool, way way lighter. Just bolts in no mods at all

THATS SC OR NA

-Mitch

[This message has been edited by mitchjl22 (edited 01-20-2015).]

mcguiver3 JAN 20, 05:38 PM
Mitch,
Any idea how much it weighs?
The 3.5L starter, would that be from say a 2008 Malibu?

Bob
ericjon262 JAN 20, 08:39 PM
it's stupid easy to adapt the wiring. if the wiring scares you that much, grab a starter off of a 3400, 99% sure they use the same style wiring and are the compact lightweight gear reduction design.

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"I am not what you so glibly call to be a civilized man. I have broken with society for reasons which I alone am able to appreciate. I am therefore not subject to it's stupid laws, and I ask you to never allude to them in my presence again."

"The day I tried to live, I stole a thousand begger's change and gave it to the rich."
http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/119122.html

mcguiver3 JAN 20, 09:13 PM
Not much scares me but if there is a unit that does not need playing with I would use that one.