Should I install a High Torque starter for a 2.4 --> 3.6 conversion?
 

Before I install my "new" 3.6, I thought I'd check with my 3.6 bretheren on the list regarding any starter issues you may have had, if any.

I'm in the process of converting from a 2.4 with 2.7 P/Cs to a 3.6. I was planning to reuse the originial starter that I had. The 3.6 is running 11.3:1 compression and am worried that my original starter might have some problems turning this engine over reliably. I don't know what the original engineering specs were for the 2.4 starters but wanted to verify before I bolted it up and discovered I needed more starting power (hight torque starter). Forcing me to drop the engine again. I've cleaned the all the electrical connections and replaced all the cables with 1 guage cables. The original starter had no problems turning over the "old" 2.7 with 8.5:1 CR. Should I worry?

Rick

My original starter had no problems cranking over my 3.6L It does *now* because I cooked it this weekend, but that's a totally different story... I'm replacing it with a high-torque unit because I want to be cool like Jack.

I rebuilt my original '76 3 liter starter when I did the transplant, also installed new starter ring gear on the flywheel 7yrs. with no trouble. But I believe that both Jack and Thom have replaced theirs.

I replaced mine because of (I believe) heat damage from track use. I replaced it with the high-torque model only because the high-torque one is lighter. With a properly charged battery, a stock starter in good maintenance should be fine (as Bill notes) for a long, long time.

If you live in a place with a lot of extreme weather, the high torque model might be justified.

Gentlemen,
Thanks for the reply. I'll keep my original starter and see how it fares.

Rick

Hey Rick,

What kind of mufflers are those on your Pelican Owner's Gallery Profile? They kinda look like Supertrapps. That thing is going to have an awesome exhaust note!