Well I went to the local salvage yard and picked up a 3400/3.4 starter.
It actually came from a 2001 Chev Cavalier 2.2L. Apparently that starter is used on TONS of GM vehicles! :icon_eek:
Anyway the hard part was getting the old starter out! Big frickin pig! The solenoid was hooking wires, hoses and pinched the F*CK out of my finger once! The trick of the removal is this...
Always remove the positive battery post when servicing anything electrical on your CAR!!
1). Remove dogbones
2). Rock the motor as far back (not towards the radiator like doing rear bank plugs!)as possible without smashing the MAP into the firewall! I use a motorcycle tie-down strap anytime I rock the motor and it worked perfect here also.
3). Remove the oil filter...have a catch basin obviously when you loosen it.
4). Remove the nut for the A/C compressor bracket from starter...do not try to move bracket yet.
5). LOOSEN bolt to A/C bracket on A/C end.
6). Remove the bolt going onto the A/C compressor
7). Now swing the bracket out of the way.
8). Remove the starter rear bolt and front stud bolt.
9). Drop the starter down to allow for access to solenoid wires and solenoid bolts!
10). Remove solenoid wires and SOLENOID!!! The solenoid has three bolts and is a twist lock type setup.
11). Turn starter 1/3 turn towards the rear of the car...counter clockwise as you are looking at the back of the starter housing.
12). Drop the rear of the starter as low as you can while working it towards the front of the carriage frame cross-member. Work it out and watch for the starter plunger from hooking on wires.
13). When it is out...find your 20lbs sledge-hammer and SMASH THE SHIT OUT OF THAT OVER GROWN PIECE OF SHIT!! :icon_twisted:
No need to remove the solenoid from the high torque starter!
14). The high torque mini-starter will slide in place like a DREAM! No twisting, moaning, bitching, or groaning. She will slide right into place.
15). VERY IMPORTANT!! If your old starter had shims...PUT THEM BACK IN!!!
16). Reverse your order for replacing removed bolts, brackets, and LASTLY your oil filter.
17). Make sure twice that everything is tight!
18). Hook your battery back up.
19). Put your dogbones back in place.
19) Turn your key and listen to the sweet sound of that high torque starter!
I LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOOOOOOOVE IT! :icon_cool:
Yes, they do sound pretty cool.
I got a used unit for 25$, and it has lasted for 4 years soo far.
Small, and compact... I need the room down there, hehe.
wow, I didnt have to do half the stuff you are talking about except removing the oil filter. no rocking motor, or removing solenoid although it might help.
also mine had 2 shims when I got it out, a thick and a thin one. they were not needed, but I think I put back in the thin one... maybe not, I cant remember why thats important though :icon_confused: one thing is for sure, it is way quieter.
Engine was out when i installed mine :icon_razz:
mind you i didn't remove it to put the starter in :laugh:
well then you probably didnt take a shower under the car and look like a black and green monster like me :laugh:
j/y run next weekend, on my to do list as I will be almost there anyway, might as well swap it and get a lighter one and not to mention a lot cheaper to replace, those 3400's are everywhere up here these days.
Quote from: GangstGP on April 15, 2006, 04:30:00 PM
wow, I didnt have to do half the stuff you are talking about except removing the oil filter. no rocking motor, or removing solenoid although it might help.
also mine had 2 shims when I got it out, a thick and a thin one. they were not needed, but I think I put back in the thin one... maybe not, I cant remember why thats important though :icon_confused: one thing is for sure, it is way quieter.
Wow you are an AMAZING mechanic! Do you have A/C on your car? Do you have an oil cooler?
:lol:
like on W-body.com and the best time to R&R a 3.4 Alternator :icon_wink:
you guys should RACE!!!!!!!!
best time wins a prize from me :icon_lol:
It is funny to me that I had to do all these things to get mine out...yet there is another way I guess. By all means if you want to tear at the A/C lines and smash shit around I guess you don't have to do what I did...but WOW...just WOW! :icon_cool:
So I need to know why the original shims are not needed. I did some measuring of the starter shaft and mounting points and they were exactly (within .005"...less than the thin shim) of the original starter. Why would you not put the shims back in place? Is there something special to your setup GangstGP that you did not need them?
Anyway...if someone has a different right-up on how to remove and install a high torque starter...have at it. Maybe if it was here before I would not have spent 2 hours getting mine out! :smile24:
Sweet, good write up Kenny.
I need to call the J/Y here to see how much I could get one for. But knowing them, they'll want an arm and a leg for one. :icon_rolleyes:
i'm definately going with that starter when the time comes to replace mine. i replaced it once about 2 years ago. i couldn't get it to go down no matter what i did so i pulled it out through the top...even put the new one in from the top :icon_eek:
Let me know if you guys want one. I can get them for $50 from my local yard. Of course shipping to wherever...but considering a new one is anywhere from $130 to $210 where I looked it is a bargain. ;) :icon_cool:
But something tells me someone else on here will say he only paid $10 for his and it was brand new. :icon_rolleyes:
In fact!!!!
someone gave ME $50 to put that same starter on my car!!!!!!!!!
:laugh:
:joke:
No i payed $125 for mine brand new......but im crazy like that
Quote from: Invasion1 on April 16, 2006, 05:54:30 PM
In fact!!!!
someone gave ME $50 to put that same starter on my car!!!!!!!!!
:laugh:
:joke:
:flipa:
:bonk:
ya, I had never done a starter all by myself back then, Jeff M was the only one with some input when I asked about the shims, he said ya dont need them. I been working with Jeff M on my first build for about 3-4 years, turned out so good, I am going to try to copy it with my next ride.
bought one out of an '01 Lumina 3100 the other day, big difference in size as stated before, and a lot easier to access as well. Should have done this long ago. It's a workout putting the larger one in, this one was a breeze. Can't wait to hear it start.
Quote from: TGPilot on April 16, 2006, 05:51:40 PMBut something tells me someone else on here will say he only paid $10 for his and it was brand new. :icon_rolleyes:
Not a bad price.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/3400-3-4-3100-3-1-2-2-Chevy-Pontiac-Buick-Starter_W0QQitemZ8057911695QQcategoryZ33576QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Bring this oldie back to the top. Wish I would have found this before I started in on the starter swap tonight.
Whoever worked on this car in the past LOVED black RTV.. the solenoid connections are covered in the shit, which makes it nearly impossible to get the terminal bolts off. :icon_evil:
Got the old SOB out, and the new (used) one in.
However, it's still as loud and shitty sounding as it was before. Any ideas why? The starter is from an 02' Olds mini van w/ 15K on it.
What signifigance do the shims have?
whats the sound like??
shims effect the contact points when the starter is enguaged.....mine only needed one and no odd noises.
Here's video.. don't mind the messy garage, lol.
http://www.lukez34.com/tgpstart1.MPG
http://www.lukez34.com/tgpstart2.MPG
ya i think there is a fitment problem....how many shims do you have in there?
sounds like its enguaging to far or to close to the flywheel and it will cause that horrable sound.
sounds good to me.
I dont know , I just went outside to start my car and see. It sounded like a honda starter. In fact, you close the door and you can almost not even hear it.
so yea, I guess use 1 thin shim or no shim and try it.
2 shims, both the same size.
I've been doing some reading on the intarweb, and from what I've gathered I need to remove 1 shim. I may give that a try tonight and see what results I get.
i dont' think i used any shims. good luck!
Removed one shim, and it sounds MUCH better now. No more nasty grinding and scratching sounds!
victory!