Can anyone recommend a good hi torque starter for Chevy swap?

[NONO5.0]

I've got a Porsche '72 915 tranny from a 911 installed in my '81 DeLorean that has a Chevy V6 4.3 engine. (did ya get all that ) Well, the stock Porsche starter isn't quite enough to start the engine I guess because of the compression the engine has. It REALLY drags. (cold or hot) I had the starter checked out and they said everything was fine with the starter. I know there are quite a few of you guys who have dropped V8's into their cars and probably have had a similar problem or have modified your 911's. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

[speeder]

Yes, there are quite a few guys here who have dropped V-8s into their cars, help should be arriving soon. Don't hang up.

[motion]

I have 2 911s in the garage with V8s (what a coincidence). Hang on while I check what starter they have.... (I think I sourced them from JC Whitney if memory serves).. hang on...

[Rot 911]

Nono, I have been following your 911 engine into the Delorean since your first post. Glad to see you got the linkage problem worked out. You can get a hi-torque 911 starter that will fit your 915 tranny from our host, Pelican Parts. But before you buy a new starter, try pulling the spark plugs and see if the engine turns over. That 4.3 engine is not a high compression engine and a regular 911 starter should be able to turn it over. What kind of shape is your battery in?

[speeder]

Never really thought about it, Kurt is right. Regular 911 starter should have plenty of power. Unless it's a diesel. It's not a diesel, is it?

[finadict]

I'd just get a gear reduction starter from renegade or rod simpson....

[Zeke]

You guys are going to rip this poor man a new one before you're done, right? Anything Chevy attached to anything Porsche rankles the board.

FWIW, there are many starter and alt shops that build gear reduction starters based on a Japanese unit and a billet nose. You usually find these guys at auto swap meets, in the Drive magazine distributed at speed shops or on the Net.

[speeder]

Nono, We like to kid around about Porschevs here, no big deal I hope.

Bottom line is that a stock 911 starter should turn that motor over w/ no problem. If not, I'd check the whole system.

[dtw]

Read carefully you tools. It's just a 915 trans into a DeLorean. No need to wake up the peanut gallery.

Nono, give a call to some of the 911 track/race preppers like TRG, Windward, KMR, etc. They've got the starters you're looking for all day long. Lighter and smaller than stock with gear reduction units.

[NONO5.0]

Thanks for all the info guys! Don't worry, I don't offend easily and I have thick skin...besides its in a DeLorean not a Porsche so I didn't mess up a real car Actually, the Porsche tranny is GREAT! Matched up with the Vortec 4.3, the car is ACTUALLY reliable now and I can enjoy it! The only problem is the severe starter drag. I put in a new battery so I'm sure its not a battery issue and I've got a HUGE ground wire going to it so I'm ok there too. I'm pretty positive its the starter though, because when I go to start it....it stops the starter....I release the key and hit it again (low compression stroke) and it fires right up. I thought the same thing...how could the 4.3 have that much compression I've read about a lot of people with V8's in their Porsches, but I never heard anything about needing a hi torque starter and as many as have been swapped, I would think it would have been an issue. That's why I thought the problem was in the current starter I have. Da well, hopefully a hi torque starter will solve my problem.

Thanks again everyone!

[dtw]

Could you have possible set the spacing too tight and you are binding up on the ring gear?

[speeder]

The Chevy 4.3 Vortec motor is a massive improvement over the PRV motor that came in the car originally, I had a Volvo 260 w/ that same V-6 in it. What a toilet.

What trans did the DeLorean come with originally?

P.S.: I was just goofing because of the "dropped V-8s in our Porsches" joke, no offense intended. (It was a joke, right?)

[Victor]

"Read carefully you tools" - thats a bit harsh?

Is a delorian the car used in back to the future?? Rock ON!

[Jack Olsen]

Pelican sells them. Click on the image for the link:

[chuckw951]

I didn't think you are supposed to install a Chevy motor into a Porscha. It just ain't right.

Isn't their a more suitable firebird (perhaps one with the spit'n chicken on the hood) in your area to soup up instead?

[Doog]

Maybe the high compression comes from the head having been skimmed...

Either way.. DeLoreans are cool. never see em over here..

Good luck


rgds

Doog

[sammyg2]

http://www.tiltonracing.com/catalog.html

[NONO5.0]

Originally posted by speeder

What trans did the DeLorean come with originally?

P

The tranny was actually worse than the engine! It was a Renault tranny. That was a HUGE POS! The Porsche is a great improvement.



Thanks for all the info guys....however, the starter guy said that the starter is actually a hi torque starter. He said it had 4 of something (can't remember) so I have no idea where my problem may be. I don't think its the starter ring gear b/c the starter gear looks fine. Even though the battery is new, I guess I'm gonna swap it out and see if maybe its bad. Its got a 8 or 6 gauge ground wire going straight to the frame so I don't think its that. Da well

[Rot 911]

Before you swap it out, see if it spins over easily with the spark plugs out.