1972 455, has anyone bought one recently? What current part numbers are available? Looking for a stock remanufactured unit or new GM design. All I can find that mention torque say "low torque unit". Thanks!

 

Heresa astock one

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...tarter-149241/

i have a power master turning my 455 works great

 

You should be able to find a reman at the local auto parts store. The late 60s 400/455 4bbl application should all be high torque versions.

Here's one for a 68 400:

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c...=starter&pos=0

 

I am using a RobbMc unit on my 455 with headers and it was the only thing that would fit with the 2" headers. Powermaster would not fit.

 

RobbMc x 2. Makes great stuff and supporting the small independent guy.

 

I have a power master on mine, probably 5 years old at this point. Zero complaints.

 

x2 7 years. Add a heat shield if you have headers. Cooked two factory starters.

 

This is the starter that was on the 260. Delco part number 1998439 NAPA part number 76008. NAPA catalog says it if for a 403. I am thinking I am going to use it on the 455.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NAE7...nput=NAE+76008

 

It has the 1" spacer from the solenoid to the armature terminals, which identifies it as a high torque version. The low torque starters do not have that 1" spacer.

 

Thank you

 

Not always true on that style field case. If it has only one lead coming from the field case it is probably a low torque but not always.. The high torque in that style case had 2 leads. If you want to be sure take the back cover off and count the copper bars on the armature commutator. High torque will will have 23 bars and low torque will have 27 bars.

 

It does have two leads. Thanks.

 

Thanks for the info. I remembered a discussion about this but couldn't find the post and didn't remember the details.

 

When GM started using that style field case they experimented with aluminium fields. The Al fields were problematic and not up to the task. Not only were they weaker they had problems with the internal welds breaking. The lead from the field to the solenoid was copper and welded to the Al. field inside of the case. Also the fields were welded to each other inside of the case. The fields were coated in plastic, so you can't tell if the fields are Al or copper without exposing them by removing a bit of the insulation. Every Al field I came across went straight into the scrap bin. It might be worth taking a look to see what you have.

 

Thanks for the information. The owner of this car is the original owner. 340K miles. He has been a customer of my shop since before I bought it 21 years ago. I stopped selling NAPA parts around 2008. I was expecting a low torque unit on the 260. I would have to say whoever rebuilt it for NAPA was aware of the problems with the aluminum.

 

Years ago Large rebuilders did not test for field composition. On a large scale they had a tear down section, a cleaning section, a testing section, a refurbish section, and an assembly section. If parts test good they were reused. Often only a sampling of a completed batch would be tested. Quantity over quality. If a unit was returned as defective they would just replace it with another one. If a unit was returned it went through the process again.Parts were mixed and matched. There are several styles of high torque field coils. The chances of getting a rebuilt starter with the correct field for a specific starter were hit or miss. All high torque starters are not equal. I would think that over the years the aluminium fields weeded themselves out, so you probably have copper fields in yours.

 

Original starter would not do it. AC Delco (Chinese junk) would not do it. Local rebuild did a GM starter for me that works great.

 

Glad to hear you got it done! Who did the rebuild for you?

 

Gen-Star, recommendation from Fred M
http://genstarelectric.com/

It is off for exhaust tomorrow am