lightweight starter motor

Has anyone installed one of the smaller/lighter starter motors from Ferraristarters.com? What was the weight savings?

 

I think its 6.6 kilos or 14 lbs. I am also considering buying one.

 

I think the lightweight ones are 9~10 lbs. so there would not be too much of a weight savings if that's the case. Hopefully we'll hear from someone that has installed it one.

 

I have one from an alternate source with a lifetime warranty . .. so far so good.

Think cost was like $350.

Sean

 

Yes I thought the original was 25lbs? I seem to remember the same people offering a starter for the 246 and someone installing one.

 

Thanks Sean. How much time/miles do you have on it? Do you know the weight savings? Was it completely "plug and play"? Does it spin the engine faster? Who was your source for the motor?

Erich

 

Had it on about 6 months, don't know the weight savings off the top of my head and doesn't seem like it spins faster. The stock starter would click when everything was really hot . . . I'd rebuilt it and had it in and out about 10 times . .. probably just needed a heat shield.

I bought a few of 'em direct from a manufacturer but they weren't completely plug and play . . just had to index them on the "universal" adapter that they've come up with or drill a couple new holes . .. wasn't a big deal but it is a pretty tight fit.

Post a pic of what they're selling and I'll post a pic of mine to see if they're the same.

Sean

 

http://hometown.aol.com/martingf/Ferraristarters.html

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Yeah that's it . . I'll post a pic of it installed . . . I don't have a heat shield on the front header and that helped . .. you might not have one since you're EURO . . heat shields might be in the way.


Sean

 

I need to buy one....although since I need to do some flywheel work as well I may just buy a $150 starter from summit and make a flywheel to fit it.

 

You should contact them anyway to see if they have one for your application

 

Do you mean the heat shielding directly around the headers (welded on)? I do have that because mine is a Swiss Market not a "pure" Euro :-(

 

you're a madman.............................................................................................. I like that.

 

Yes . . I'll post a pic for ya.

 

they do, $425 it I stick with the 400 flywheel.....and I might.

 

Last winter, while doing the overhaul on my '78 GTS, I installed a Hi Torq starter from Gustafson Specialty Products, Gloucester, MA.

http://www.gustafsonmachine.com/pages/1/index.htm

He manufactures the adapter plates to fit the car and the gear that mates with the flywheel. I have used his high torq starters in several Jaguars over the years, and they are outstanding, extremely reliable, and do turn the engine over much better than the old starters do. Plus, they only weight about 9 pounds, vs. 25 for the old starter, and they are much smaller overall. It is a straight bolt-up change. If you call Keith Gustafson, he can give you the name of his distributor(s). I got one directly from him as he didn't have a distributor for the Ferrari starters last winter, but he may now. He's a very nice guy, just tell him what you're looking for.

As for the application on the 308, the high torque starter definitely turns the engine over better than the old Bosch starter. No question about it. I'm very please with the change, and well worth the money, IMHO.
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Thanks for the info. Steve. Great photos too.

 

I am going to a Gustafson starter as we rebuild my engine over the next three weeks as well - Norwoods has even used them on Daytona V-12s. James says "It doesn't sound like a Ferrari starter, but then this one always starts!"

It's a nice feeling to walk out to the car knowing it's always going to start...
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Yeah, but at some point we don't want to get too far away from the origins of our tempermental mistress. Sometimes we all need that possible sense of rejection ("I've got a headache."), that anticipation ("will she, won't she?") If we make these things too reliable, too predictable, we might as well buy an NSX for our weekend love affair.

 

Yes, but how many times on a cold morning you really really needed your mistress to turn over and she wouldn't?

I'm just buying her a piece of Jewelry so she will be more likely to...



Russ

 

Not going to touch that one. Could be family members on F-Chat

 

Here's some pic's of it installed so you can get an idea if the heat shield is going to be a PITA.

Gustafson is where I got mine . .. it took a while (think he likes people using his distributors so I bought a few and saved some $$$) but I'm real happy with it (lifetime guarantee with HIM . .. can't beat that . .. you must keep the box though!).


Sean
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Thanks for the photos Sean. I take it then that the top of the new starter assembly sits higher up (closer) to the header pipes than the original starter motor, is that right? Guess I'll have to get under my car and have a look.

Erich