1984 delta 88 starter problems
October 7th, 2011, 05:06 PM
#1
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1984 delta 88 starter problems
I hope this is in the right section if not feel free to move it.
The car has a swapped 350 now but i'm using the 307 starter and other accessories. Well stupid me forgot to re-install the starter shield when i did the swap.
Today when i was trying to set the timing the motor stalled a couple times. When i tried to restart it the starter cranked very slow and almost barely started the motor, I stopped let it sit 5 minutes and tried again. Half-way through cranking it starts making a horrible grinding noise i released the key from start and the starter was still turning and grinding i even removed the key from the ignition and it was still cranking. I had to run and disconnect the battery cable.
What went wrong here? Did the solenoid go or is the whole starter toast? Can i rebuild it and fix this or is it just better to go and get a new starter or JY one? its only 3 years old I'd hate to let it go to waste.
The car has a swapped 350 now but i'm using the 307 starter and other accessories. Well stupid me forgot to re-install the starter shield when i did the swap.
Today when i was trying to set the timing the motor stalled a couple times. When i tried to restart it the starter cranked very slow and almost barely started the motor, I stopped let it sit 5 minutes and tried again. Half-way through cranking it starts making a horrible grinding noise i released the key from start and the starter was still turning and grinding i even removed the key from the ignition and it was still cranking. I had to run and disconnect the battery cable.
What went wrong here? Did the solenoid go or is the whole starter toast? Can i rebuild it and fix this or is it just better to go and get a new starter or JY one? its only 3 years old I'd hate to let it go to waste.
October 7th, 2011, 07:23 PM
#2
Connoisseur d'Junque
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Location: The Hudson Valley
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Classic stuck solenoid contacts - the contact ring welds itself to the contacts, sometimes aided by heat and prolonged cranking.
The larger question, is do you have the right starter installed - they made a smaller starter, and I believe it was for the 307 and 260 (experts please correct me), so it may be too little for your 350.
- Eric
The larger question, is do you have the right starter installed - they made a smaller starter, and I believe it was for the 307 and 260 (experts please correct me), so it may be too little for your 350.
- Eric
October 8th, 2011, 01:53 PM
#4
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Thanks for the info guys i guess in the near future i'm buying a 350 starter.
But anyway i have a temp fix for now i went to the junkyard and pulled a starter off a 307 just to get me by (looks newer maybe only a couple years old)
So when i got underneath the car i saw a piece of metal that resembled a half egg shell i look up at the starter and saw this
(pretty beat, that starter was only 3 years old 
)
320280_2030611088230_1332690087_31705596_676279795_n.jpg
Hopefully the new starter will hold up long enough for me to get a 350 starter.
Is it just me or does that new starter look bigger? It came from a 86 caddy fleetwood.
But anyway i have a temp fix for now i went to the junkyard and pulled a starter off a 307 just to get me by (looks newer maybe only a couple years old)
So when i got underneath the car i saw a piece of metal that resembled a half egg shell i look up at the starter and saw this
(pretty beat, that starter was only 3 years old )320280_2030611088230_1332690087_31705596_676279795_n.jpg
Hopefully the new starter will hold up long enough for me to get a 350 starter.
Is it just me or does that new starter look bigger? It came from a 86 caddy fleetwood.
October 8th, 2011, 02:11 PM
#5
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Yes, the new starter is bigger.
It's probably the one you want. There was also a bigger one for the high compression big blocks, but I think (correctly?) that there were only three sizes.
- Eric
It's probably the one you want. There was also a bigger one for the high compression big blocks, but I think (correctly?) that there were only three sizes.
- Eric
October 8th, 2011, 03:06 PM
#6
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I've never even seen one that small before. No wonder it broke. It was probably from a 260, or something.
The one you pulled from the caddy, looks more like a 307 starter. Large diameter, but the stepped bolt flange.
The 77 and older starters don't have the stepped flange. It's flat and takes 2 long bolts instead of 1 short, and 1 long.
The one you pulled from the caddy, looks more like a 307 starter. Large diameter, but the stepped bolt flange.
The 77 and older starters don't have the stepped flange. It's flat and takes 2 long bolts instead of 1 short, and 1 long.
October 8th, 2011, 03:08 PM
#7
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Haha just had a feeling, I didnt even notice until i was looking at the pictures.
Hmm well i hope this bigger one can handle the 350 and dont break in half like the previous one.
But a reman. starter for a 70 cutlass 350 is only 50 bucks at the auto store so if this one kicks the bucket then i'll get the new one i guess.
Well thanks again for all the help fellas. I better get back to work on this thing I'm most likely registering it tuesday and i feel as though i still have so much to do.
Hmm well i hope this bigger one can handle the 350 and dont break in half like the previous one.
But a reman. starter for a 70 cutlass 350 is only 50 bucks at the auto store so if this one kicks the bucket then i'll get the new one i guess.
Well thanks again for all the help fellas. I better get back to work on this thing I'm most likely registering it tuesday and i feel as though i still have so much to do.
October 8th, 2011, 03:16 PM
#8
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I've never even seen one that small before. No wonder it broke. It was probably from a 260, or something.
The one you pulled from the caddy, looks more like a 307 starter. Large diameter, but the stepped bolt flange.
The 77 and older starters don't have the stepped flange. It's flat and takes 2 long bolts instead of 1 short, and 1 long.
The one you pulled from the caddy, looks more like a 307 starter. Large diameter, but the stepped bolt flange.
The 77 and older starters don't have the stepped flange. It's flat and takes 2 long bolts instead of 1 short, and 1 long.
and to think they charged me about 240 parts/labor to install it (back then i didnt have the tools i have now
otherwise i would have done it)Ooo I see, well do you think this starters gonna last or is it gonna meet the same fate as the other did?
October 9th, 2011, 07:21 AM
#10
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Location: Pittsburgh Pa.
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Usually the broken starter housing is caused by incorrect timing. The engine kicks back when the starter is engaged. Get the timing right and the bigger starter will last a while. The bigger starter is a morphidite. GM never made this starter. It has a housing made to adapt to 8MT starter fields. The broken one was a 5MT
October 9th, 2011, 09:54 AM
#11
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