Starters???

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bradfields

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OK, on my 71 340 4 speed Demon what starter do I need? I had no starter for it so I called NAPA and they sent me a big ol 3 bolt direct drive starter with a cast iron nose. I thought the standard Mopar 2 bolt gear reduction aluminum nosed starter was the right one, any ideas??
 
this is a factory starter which i use with BOTH my sets headers. a mini-starter is not a must with long tubes.
 

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a 97 dakota has a "mini" starter that will bolt up.If you are running headers it is a must if you don't have a starter.If your going original it would be a two bolt starter like every la small block atleast I've don't recall ever seeing a different starter for this motors.
 
I think OLD *** starters were direct drive, like 63 or so and some Hemi 4 spds. A V6 RAM starter should work, I have used them on all my SB builds, even a B build. plenty of grunt, lighter and quieter
 
I'll add I'm running a factory starter like 73ABodee has pictured with my hooker headersWhen I put the motor in couple weeks ago I laid the starter and headers in place before I dropped the motor and I can say for sure if it goes out I will be looking for a dakota starter.All depends on your exhaust really the hookers are a nightmare.
 
x2 on the 97 dakota starter. Even without headers on my B-Van, it was worth doing (they run $85-$125 on rockauto, I willfully paid the latter). So much better than the huge old-school starter. Now if it doesn't start on the first try, I no longer have EVERYONE in the parking lot turning their heads with that "wtf is that noise?" look.
 
Does it matter which engine/transmission combination I ask for when ordering a 97 Dakota starter for my Demon??
 
bradfields said:
OK, on my 71 340 4 speed Demon what starter do I need? I had no starter for it so I called NAPA and they sent me a big ol 3 bolt direct drive starter with a cast iron nose. I thought the standard Mopar 2 bolt gear reduction aluminum nosed starter was the right one, any ideas??
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Napa sold you the wrong starter, or it was boxed wrong. I highly recommend you take it back and accidently throw it at the computer.

All gear drive starters fit the same. There are different torque/hp levels over the years, but they all fit and crank the engines they were meant to fit.

ANY traditional Mopar engine with headers should accept either a stock gear drive Mopar starter (what do you think we did in the 60's and 70's??) or a mini, but a mini is a better way to go.
 
The mini starter also sounds better. Not that it's a big deal or anything, but that was the first thing I noticed when I made the switch.
 
UOP said:
The mini starter also sounds better. Not that it's a big deal or anything, but that was the first thing I noticed when I made the switch.
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call me old, but i like the unique sound of that big ole' chrysler boat anchor of a starter LOL
 
73AbodEE said:
call me old, but i like the unique sound of that big ole' chrysler boat anchor of a starter LOL
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:poke:


Nelson-YoureOld.jpg
 
73AbodEE said:
call me old, but i like the unique sound of that big ole' chrysler boat anchor of a starter LOL
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X2 LOL

I had to replace the starter on my 1969 Polara and the Mopar dude behind the counter said "Let me get you a mini starter and get rid of that whine." I refused.
 
I still have the "Chrysler crank" going in my Dart...
But I'll NOT keep it as other things get done...
10Lbs. off your front end cheap...
That and a set of aluminum heads, and a glass hood, move battery to trunk... seriously improved weight bias!
 
Get a mini-starter as a factory style starter won't last long on a car with headers.
 
73AbodEE said:
call me old, but i like the unique sound of that big ole' chrysler boat anchor of a starter LOL
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Yep. My preference, too. :cry:


Which is why I went with the original style when I replaced my starter a couple weeks back.

I got the original style alright...Powermaster brand. I called the vendor (Summit) to make sure it was indeed the same size, 'cuz I didn't want fitment problems. I was told it would indeed fit like the OEM starter..and 'It will sound like the old starter!'

That sold me. I wanted to keep the Mopar starter sound.

Alas. I was told wrong. The starter did fit (Hedman headers), does work, but it sounds nothing like the OEM starter. It does have an after-start noise (after engine fire..before the Bendix pulls the gear back) that is irritating.

Kind'a p****d me off. Having been told specifically that a <thing> would be a <particular> way by someone that should know, I expected it to be so.

Now you know. The Powermaster 3257 'look alike' starter does not sound alike.
 
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