Many of us have swapped our old SI alternators out for the newer better CS130 units. How about starters?
Has anyone installed a newer starter that's on the newer 3400 engines (2000 up) in Grand AMs, Montanas, Ventures etc? These new alternators are smaller, lighter, more powerful and supposedly more durable with it's better technology. I'm running a Fiero alternator on a 3400 block with no problem, so there's no reason a newer starter wouldn't bolt up to the block. But I'm not sure if there would be any problems with the flywheel/ring gear not meshing with the starter properly.
So has anyone done this yet? Anything in particular to watch out for?
------------------ 3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com 2002/2003/2004 World of Wheels Winner & Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner
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07:58 PM
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KurtAKX Member
Posts: 4008 From: West Bloomfield, MI Registered: Feb 2002
I've wondered this too. I'd like to use the newer smaller 3400 gear reduction starter on my 2.5. Its on my list of things to do when I put the high compression 2.5 blcok together.
quote
Originally posted by fierosound:
Many of us have swapped our old SI alternators out for the newer better CS130 units. How about starters?
Has anyone installed a newer starter that's on the newer 3400 engines (2000 up) in Grand AMs, Montanas, Ventures etc? These new alternators are smaller, lighter, more powerful and supposedly more durable with it's better technology. I'm running a Fiero alternator on a 3400 block with no problem, so there's no reason a newer starter wouldn't bolt up to the block. But I'm not sure if there would be any problems with the flywheel/ring gear not meshing with the starter properly.
So has anyone done this yet? Anything in particular to watch out for?
Many of us have swapped our old SI alternators out for the newer better CS130 units. How about starters?
Has anyone installed a newer starter that's on the newer 3400 engines (2000 up) in Grand AMs, Montanas, Ventures etc? These new alternators are smaller, lighter, more powerful and supposedly more durable with it's better technology. I'm running a Fiero alternator on a 3400 block with no problem, so there's no reason a newer starter wouldn't bolt up to the block. But I'm not sure if there would be any problems with the flywheel/ring gear not meshing with the starter properly.
So has anyone done this yet? Anything in particular to watch out for?
The engines and flywheel diameters are basically the same. In addition to the new design you will have a considerable drop in weight of what I recall feeling like well over 5 lbs difference. It's probably all of 10 lbs lighter.
im using a 3400 starter from an impala, direct bolt on aside from some shimming. sounds much different, i weighed my old starter at 13lbs and the new one was 6 pounds. any starter from the aluminum headed 60deg. v6s work. 25$ off of ebay.
[This message has been edited by megafreakindeth (edited 08-05-2008).]
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10:59 PM
americasfuture2k Member
Posts: 7131 From: Edmond, Oklahoma Registered: Jan 2006
i didnt notice anything different on my 3500 starter. i cant recall if it is different in size than the one i had to replace in my blazer. ill take a closer glance when i drop my starter again to replace my OPSU with a gauge one and not the idiot light one.
------------------ 1987 Fiero GT built by my brother, merlot566jka, 3500 LX9 from 06 Malibu, WOT-TECH.com 1280 grind stage 3 cam, LS6 valve springs, 1227730 ECM conversion, Darrel Morse solid aluminum cradle mounts, Truleo headers modified to fit the 3500, 36# inectors, 70mm 4.3 throttle body adapted to 3500 intake, ported heads, upper and lower intakes, lightly polished, tcemotorsports.com crank trigger wheel, CenterForce dual friction clutch, Flowtech Afterburner muffler, 2.5" piping, cat deleted, EGR deleted, SinisterPerformance tuning, C6 Corvette exhaust tips. projected to be 35 MPG with a guesstimate of 250 hp to the wheels
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11:58 PM
Aug 6th, 2008
fierosound Member
Posts: 15189 From: Calgary, Canada Registered: Nov 1999
Originally posted by fierosound: Thanks. There must be others who have done this. I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned before - at least I didn't find anything through Search.
I mentioned it more than two years ago in my link.
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10:40 PM
Aug 7th, 2008
fierosound Member
Posts: 15189 From: Calgary, Canada Registered: Nov 1999
I mentioned it more than two years ago in my link.
As I said, I didn't find anything through Search and this upgrade has been "less publicized" than the CS130 alternator upgrade. Still good to know these smaller starters fit.
[This message has been edited by fierosound (edited 08-07-2008).]
wow, thats how big the stocker is? and mine is close to or smaller than the newer one. hey joseph, do you know if the 3500's is any different? or is it the same as that 3400's?
------------------ 1987 Fiero GT built by my brother, merlot566jka, 3500 LX9 from 06 Malibu, WOT-TECH.com 1280 grind stage 3 cam, LS6 valve springs, 1227730 ECM conversion, Darrel Morse solid aluminum cradle mounts, Truleo headers modified to fit the 3500, 36# inectors, 70mm 4.3 throttle body adapted to 3500 intake, ported heads, upper and lower intakes, lightly polished, tcemotorsports.com crank trigger wheel, CenterForce dual friction clutch, Flowtech Afterburner muffler, 2.5" piping, cat deleted, EGR deleted, SinisterPerformance tuning, C6 Corvette exhaust tips. projected to be 35 MPG with a guesstimate of 250 hp to the wheels
Originally posted by americasfuture2k: wow, thats how big the stocker is? and mine is close to or smaller than the newer one. hey joseph, do you know if the 3500's is any different? or is it the same as that 3400's?
That is a 3500 starter. The older starter is from a 3.4 pushrod but should be the same as the Fiero's except for the stagered bolt hole and right side mount config. I'm not sure if the 3400 starter is the same but it felt like at least 10 lbs difference between the two in the picture.
