EL CAMINO Starter VS. Headers

[kygaca]

Hey all,
Put my Oldsmobile 350 into my 87 El Camino a while ago, got distracted with school. I installed Hedman Headers 58070 (Full Length). I cannot for the life of me fit my starter (came with 1972 Olds 350 from a Delta 88) in! Does anyone have any tips or tricks/suggestions? I don't think this will fit at all and considering that I may be forced to purchase a mini starter. I am at such a loss...

 

[565bbchevy]

Did you unbolt the header from the engine and try installing the starter then, I always run mini starters just to have the extra torque and clearance since many times even if you get the factory style to fit you have header tubes laying against it which is not good for the starter.

 

[old80cs]

I remember having to lift the engine out of the mounts a little with a floor jack, let the header loose and slip the starter motor into place. I always had to ding one (or two) header pipes to clear the starter. I believe I have a high torque diesel starter in my Olds as well.

 

[pontiac guy]

Starter goes first. Hedders second. Put a heat shield on the starter and do a ford solenoid or you will be sad when that solenoid welds itself in place and you have to pull a battery cable to get it to die

 

[fleming442]

Power Master 9510

 

[Jim Rockford]

find one from a late model 307 , should be a smaller permanent magnet style . Might even be gear reduction style.
Alway look for a newer factory option for OEM parts vs overpriced after market stuff.

Sratch that , I have been informed with a buddy that this dual bolt hole pattern chevy mini starters work for olds and pontiac also, you just have to flip the block and might have to turn it over and then set it up.

They are pretty cheap nowadays. http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5335822911&icep_item=264961159158

 

[500/600]

1995 LT1 350 starter on my Caddy 500. They are super small, came off of a SBC, sound like stock, and are about $40 off of ebay. All of my hi-torque mini starters sound like *ss being rubbed with a dry rotted latex glove dipped in 20 year old super glue....................

 

[500/600]

Edit..............you ain't using a SBC, sorry. Everything else I said is still true.

 

[5spdCab]

Like someone else had said earlier, I also had to unbolt the headers, and lift the engine block high enough on the starter side to change out a bad starter (twice!), the suggestion to install a heat shield is one that I should have heeded with the first starter exchange. For my second starter swap, I installed a mini starter AND a heat shield.

 

[spidereyes455]

It is tight but it should fit but you will have to unbolt the header from the engine and slide them both up from the bottom at the same time. I have hedman long tubes on my 80 cutlass with a 403 and I struggled laying on the floor trying to do it by myself but I eventually got it.