Starter Upgrade

Nice to know these are available. That being said, later this summer I'm going to remove my starter and gold plate the contacts inside. These tend to corrode over time and the build up makes for intermitent starting problems. A friend with an early Dino had the internal contacts gold plated 15 years ago and his starter has worked perfectly since then. I'll do the labor (not the plating) and will document it for the group.

 

Andrew - Tom C. on this chat just purchased one of these. Perhaps he can provide some insight.

Jim S.

 

Didn't use that one, but I did install the Superformance version with great results.

Engine cranks faster, starts better, and it looks more or less stock.

It did, as I recall, require some slight modification to the housing on the motor.

available here..http://www.superformance.co.uk/246/246igne.htm about 2/3 way down the page.

dm

 

Never had a starter problem, but was going to bech test, clean up and change brushes.
Gold plating........ will keep an eye on this one, when you gonna do it?

 

Does anyone have a US-based source for starter solenoids?

 

Gold plating some time this summer - probably July.

 

Andrew- I just installed a Gustafson starter on my dino 246 gts motor. The motor is out of the car but I put the starter in with the headers on (it is a US car & has spacers etc). The starter will fit with the headers on & it comes out with the headers on. I tried putting the stock starter on with the headers & you cant do it...in fact you have to remove the headers & at least the exhaust stud furthest to the left just to get the starter out. I can't imagine how to do it with the engine in the car & that is why I am trying this starter. I have not started the motor yet as I am still assembling it but expect to in the next week or two. The diameter of this starter is less than the stock unit which enables the easy installation/removal. The mounting flange has to sit at 12 and 6 oclock & the solenoid part has to be at 9 oclock or it wont fit. This may not apply to you as I think you have a Fiat Dino with different headers. I am hoping that this will be an easy solution to any possible problems in the future, Good luck!

 

Originally posted by ajmarton:

In the ebay photo, the starter on the left is my 365 GT 2+2 starter used as a guide to design the one on the right, which is now in my car. The people selling the starters (www.britishstarters.com) have been making high-speed gear-reduction starters for other vintage cars for some years now and took up my offer to use my starter to start making replacements for Ferrari (Marelli) MT21T starters. I don't know how many different kinds of Ferraris they will fit. Mine installed in minutes (much easier than the original one was to remove), was completely hidden by the heat shield, and works beautifully. It cranks faster and with a lot less battery drain. I'm really happy with mine and the original Marelli will go in the trunk in a box (for the purists) when I eventually sell the car.
Tom Kizer

 

Are they planning to make one availiable for the 308 engine?

 

I don't really know. I haven't had contact with them since they made mine in 2005. Britishstarters.com and Gustafson have some relationship. Although I communicated initially with and bought the starter from Martin (britishstarters.com), my starter was subsequently designed, manufactured and shipped by Gustafson. That photo on ebay, showing the installation on an engine, was taken by me after I installed it in my car. I sent it to Martin to show him how well it fit and how much space was left over.

 

i've currently got a Dino in the shop (02058) with the superformance starter (used to be owned by them).....it runs over faster than the original.......just a pity the car fouls its plugs when hot.......so doesnt matter how quickly it turns over its still a PTA to start!

 

Andrew, use NGK BPR7EIX Iridium plugs, John

 

Funny - I was just going to post the same question about these gear reduction starters.

Mark Nerheim

 

The gear reduction starter on eBay is a LOT less expensive than the Superformance one . . . .

 

The one from Superformance is a known quantity.

I've had it on my car for over two years without incident. My old starter was slow, the superformance starter cranks the **** out of my motor, and it fires quickly as a result.

Anyone here have the one from this particular seller on his car for comparison? We're all looking for ways to save a buck.

DM

 

I bought the gear reduction stater on Ebay to check it out. I will post my findings when it comes in.

 

Any word on performance in your car?

They are still selling these starters on Ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-FERRARI-Dino-246-GT-MODERN-Gear-Reduction-STARTER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ10076QQihZ015QQitemZ250047862840QQrdZ1

The Superformance starter is 700 pounds which is close to USD $1400.00
The britishstarters.com costs USD $425.95

 

I have had mine in my car('74 246 gts) for 200 miles & about 4 add'l hours of engine out of the car testing. It works great. It is smaller,much lighter & u can get it in & out w/out removing the headers. Additionally I dont have the heat shield over it & it seems to work fine. I put a new ignition switch in my car as well & when I turn the key it starts immediately. If I can help pls let me know.