BC

The ebay starter a few of us have - does anyone have experience with it on the early lower bell housing? No steel bracket - the starter bolts directly to the clutch cover.

I installed it and its not hitting the starter ring gear at all. Not even close it seems.

Has anyone made this work?

Mike Simard

I have one of those crappy starters on an early 'bellhousing' and it fits. Well at least the gear does, the electric post hitting the pan isn't good.
Does yours not extend from the starter enough to reach the flywheel?

BC

I suppose that could be the issue. I have a second one that I can try. I will take it off and see if it's extending.

I thought yours was extending sterling but not turning the engine?

BC

Mike- which wires from your 78 went where on these things?

Mike Simard

I don't have a shred of original wiring left on that car. I have a push button switch that sends 12v+ to the little terminal.
What exactly doesn't fit with yours?

BC

It seems to spun but I am not sure if it's not pushing out or if it is but can't reach

Mike Simard

Put some grease on the shaft in front of the gear to verify the gear extending.

Edit: Nevermind, these starters don't have that.

BC

I think I can take it off and see if it does it off the car right?

Mike Simard

Yes, that's a good idea. They usually flop around doing that so hang on to it. You'll still need batt 12v+ going to the big post as well as ground.

Being cheap crap allows a myriad of interesting things to go wrong!
My favorite was having a starter that I know extended and was mounted in the correct location but yet would bind. I spent alot of time and was sure all was ok before I found that the pitch of the gear wasn't compatible with the flywheel.

John Veninger

I have one on my track car with the earlier cover. I think it was short and he sent me a different nose. I don't know if we are talking about the same starter and/or same vendor.

BC

I have two of these as I mentioned. I will be trying the other one tonight. Even more so need to get the car on the road as my wife's acura just blew 2nd. 6 Days out of the *class action lawsuit* induced 93 month warranty on these stupid mis-engineered 5spds.

BC

I tried the second one tonight, because when I grounded the first one to work off the engine, it did not always turn. It shoots out the gear just fine, but didn't turn 1/3 of the time. The second one shoots and turns, but again, on the engine, it does that without actually contacting the ring gear.

Luckily, I have a spare starter solenoid, and will put that on the original starter, and be done with this charade.

Stupid Ebay crap. I have had these things for YEARS. I will try them with the other engines I am building - and I will use the metal brackets with them. But the other engines are all going to be higher compression motors.