Macadoo

Before and after pics of the starter. First I scraped off as much crud as I could with a plastic knife, then I scrubbed it with a toothbrush and parts cleaner, then I scrubbed it with super hot water and dawn soap (in the kitchen sink), then I baked it at 180 degrees, the lowest my oven would go, for an hour. I stuck a fork in it, it feels done

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That was a rather miserable job but should make re-install a wee bit easier.
Can I test it with my battery and jumper cables?

oldcutlass

Water? It can be tested by connecting ground to the case and then connect the + to the big terminal. Then jumper from the big terminal to the S terminal on the solenoid.

MDchanic

I'd take it apart now, to clean and lubricate the bearings, after you poured solvent and water through them.

- Eric

76olds

Macadoo

Yeah, I'll get it apart now that it's clean. But for the record, I didn't submerge the unit in either solvent or water. I was careful about the internals. But I've come this far, might...as...well......

Macadoo

Thanks Eric.

76olds

I wonder if you pair Dawn with another leading name would that provide a decent lube for the internals ?

coppercutlass

I just took my starter to autozone and got the hd unit for 45 bucks with the core and I gave them a chevy core. Did the old switcheroo and ended up with 2 olds starters lol. The autozone hd unit has lived for years now in my 72. The one needs a solenoid but I was like ehhhh not worth the effort lol.

oldstata

So your the reason all my parts are boxed wrong lol

coppercutlass

Lol yeah . I might have something to do with that lol. They actually don't care if the part does not match they just need something to ship back. I found this out after years of thinking I was being all sly about it

oldstata

Yeah I know most just get scrapped in the end

Macadoo

Well at this point that's $45 I can put towards new wheels. Besides, I need something to do while I wait for the head gaskets. It didn't have any problems, it was just filthy.

coppercutlass

Mac there are some swap meets coming up . Peotone jan. 5 and the bopc swap meet in st, Charles il. last weekend of feb. Good sources for wheels there. usually race looking stuff like what I got on mine but good deals are to be had there lol. You should come up for the bopc the same weekend we have the race and performance expo right down the road from the bopc swap meet. Good weekend for car stuff.

Macadoo

That's what I'm hoping for Copper. I'm saving for a set of Cragar SS wheels. The swaps sound fun. If the next semester gets off to a smooth start, I may just drag the wife up there. Thanks for the info.

76olds

Cragar's will set your car of nice Mac, Geez I had to put my wedding off for 3 years to save up for them, Looking back now I think I spent more on rubber.

oldcutlass

I doubt you did any damage, just hook it up and give her a test. Don't let it run long, make sure it kicks out and spins.

Macadoo

Lol! The wife got a kick outta' that.

Macadoo

What should I use for lube? I have some wheel bearing grease.

MDchanic

Wheel bearing grease is probably fine. That's pretty much what I used.

It may say in the Chassis Service Manual.

- Eric

oldcutlass

Actually just a tiny bit of lite weight oil on the bushings is all the lubrication needed. Do not lubricate anywhere near the brushes.

MDchanic

Yeah. I think I used grease. I hope that won't cause a problem later on, but I think it's non-critical.

If the manual says to use oil, then definitely use oil.

- Eric

Macadoo

Oil it is. Thanks. [not other] Eric, I've rebuilt many a power tool motor, including a large table saw motor, and always used wheel bearing grease on the bushings/bearings so i wouldn't worry.

Macadoo

They came!

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Heads are on and torqued. Now, back to that starter....

Macadoo

Uhh...do those water passages look right?

Macadoo

Guys, did i majorly screw up? Those water passages don't look right to me. But these gaskets have the same cut as the recommended Felpro blues.

MDchanic

Yeah. The holes in the gaskets are not exactly the same as the holes in the head and the block.

That's normal.

Don't worry.

- Eric

ps: Did you save the old ones?

Macadoo

Oh dude, that's great news. Thanks! I've really been sweating this. And duh, yeah, guess I could have looked at the old ones. They're in the shop. I'll have a peek after dinner.

Macadoo

Not my best work but good enough for something that won't be seen. Completely disassembled, cleaned, and lubed. Testing may have to wait until after Christmas.

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I took a look at the original head gaskets. They look the same. Weird how they cast those huge water passages and then block them off. However, a nice weight off my shoulders for the holidays

Professur

Not spending enough on rubbers is frequently the reason for the wedding in the first place.

MDchanic

Looks great, Macaroni!

An acute observation, Prof.!

- Eric

Macadoo

lmao!

oldstata

Eric, lmao

RandyS

I noticed the same thing when I pulled my heads recently. Why do they block off part of the water passages with the head gasket?

MDchanic

While I don't know for certain, I would guess that the sizes of the holes for the water passages are determined by the requirements of sand casting, and are then corrected to the requirements of water flow by the sizes of the holes in the gaskets.

- Eric

z11375ss

What a great thread. For some reason it made me remember a tip. When you reassemble everything and fire it up. Don't think there is something wrong if there is a WHOLE lot of vapor coming out of your exhaust. Chances are you got some anti freeze down the exhaust pipe when you pulled the motor. This happens especially when you pull the heads w/ the motor in the engine bay. I put a BB back together and thought for sure I had done something wrong. The water coming out of the exhaust was not stopping. I called a friend and he told me this tip. I drove it up a hill and it quit smoking. Just my 2 cents. This thread is what we are all about. These are the happiest days of our hot rodding lives IMO.

Macadoo

As good a theory as any. I haven't done much sand casting but I do know that the sand breaths pretty well so the vents can be minimized. Maybe it's just a way to save on iron.

z11375ss, truer words were never spoken.

Macadoo

Sigh, it's high school all over again.

Macadoo

YES!

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oldstata

Way to go miss's clause !!!!

MDchanic

Alright! Santa was good to you.

- Eric