How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
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How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
I have a 1987 Firebird Formula and the starter went bad. The designers of the car decided it was a great idea to run the exhaust right over the starter! is there any tricks you guys know about to remove it and install a new one because it seems impossible to get this starter out! thanks.
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
Seems impossible doesn't it? You've just gotta play with it and then, shabam it comes out. Took me about an hour to get out, 5min to get it in and bolted on. No real trick, just time.
Alex
Alex
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
a cold beer. works everytime. probably still meshd up. i had to take off the collector on mine i got so fustrated.
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
Ii had to remove the exhaust pipe that comes from the driver's side header to the passenger side y-pipe. Then unbolt the starter, pull down on the y-pipe and out she comes. Hope that helps a little.
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
but remember to take the plus and minus of the battery be for you start
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
I have changed and put starters in 3 different camaros. Two was a 91 and 1 was a 89. If you play with it you can get it out. One of the '91's had a full 3 inch exhaust and I still managed to get it out :P
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
im having the same problem with my 91 camaro.what in the f*** were they thinking when they designed that! Not to mention,it also has to be the largest starter in a sports car known to man...
Iv already pulled the motor mounts to try to jack up the motor,and i still dont have enough room. Im ready to take my sawzall to the exhaust pipe!
wich way is the starter supose to come out?
towards the trans? or in the opening in the front?
PLEASE HELP
Iv already pulled the motor mounts to try to jack up the motor,and i still dont have enough room. Im ready to take my sawzall to the exhaust pipe!
wich way is the starter supose to come out?
towards the trans? or in the opening in the front?
PLEASE HELP
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
I believe if you unbolt the solenoid off the starter they come out easier, that's what I use to do.
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
im having the same problem with my 91 camaro.what in the f*** were they thinking when they designed that! Not to mention,it also has to be the largest starter in a sports car known to man...
Iv already pulled the motor mounts to try to jack up the motor,and i still dont have enough room. Im ready to take my sawzall to the exhaust pipe!
wich way is the starter supose to come out?
towards the trans? or in the opening in the front?
PLEASE HELP
Iv already pulled the motor mounts to try to jack up the motor,and i still dont have enough room. Im ready to take my sawzall to the exhaust pipe!
wich way is the starter supose to come out?
towards the trans? or in the opening in the front?
PLEASE HELP
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
its all one solid welded piece from the cat all the way up to about half way up the engine on both sides,and theres no room to get a wrench or socket on 1 or 2 of those bolts
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
finaly got the starter out and replaced.i honestly dont believe there is any way to get it out from under my car by just playing with it.i spent 2 days doing that.
first i tried pulling the mounts and jacking up the motor,almost seemed like i had less room.
i unbolted the two bolts on the driverside exhaust pipe near the manifold,pulled down on that pipe a little bit and the starter just about fell out. starter comes out nose first towards the flywheel.
instalation was the reverse.re-used the shims i had from the old starter and bolted it all back up there.
bolted up my exhaust and put the mounts back together and she started rite up.
thanks for all your help
first i tried pulling the mounts and jacking up the motor,almost seemed like i had less room.
i unbolted the two bolts on the driverside exhaust pipe near the manifold,pulled down on that pipe a little bit and the starter just about fell out. starter comes out nose first towards the flywheel.
instalation was the reverse.re-used the shims i had from the old starter and bolted it all back up there.
bolted up my exhaust and put the mounts back together and she started rite up.
thanks for all your help
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
I thought the 3rd gen was hard till I had to do one on my 99 Blazer S10 now that is a squeeze!
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
i lay on a bench and hold my starter up with 1 hand for 5 mins x 3 with each hand as a warmup before each chest workout
btw the thirdgen is cake my 02 Z71 i got it disconnected and ended up connecting it again and driving it to a shop so they could put the new one on... beer didnt even help that one ;(
btw the thirdgen is cake my 02 Z71 i got it disconnected and ended up connecting it again and driving it to a shop so they could put the new one on... beer didnt even help that one ;(
Last edited by FlippindaBird; 08-20-2011 at 03:27 PM.
#16
Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
I'm faced with the same problem now on my 85 T/A. How f'king frustrating!
The starter on my 328is is easier...and has less room!? WTF?
Anyways, the bolts for my exhaust manifold to y-pipe are rusted and will certainly break off if I try to remove the exhaust.
Any other tips?
Thanks!
The starter on my 328is is easier...and has less room!? WTF?
Anyways, the bolts for my exhaust manifold to y-pipe are rusted and will certainly break off if I try to remove the exhaust.
Any other tips?
Thanks!
#18
Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
Okay, heres the issue I think some are running into...
The starter that was in the car is 1 inch longer and about 1/2 larger diameter than the replacement one.
There was no way in hell the 'stock' one was coming out without disassembling something more.
I removed the cylinoid (however you spell it) from the old one while it was in the car and that gave me barely enough room to drag it out - I wish I had done this to begin with.
The new one, being smaller, popped right up in no problem - super easy!
So, those that may have the larger starter, remove the cylinoid before wasting two days trying to take it out.
Cheers!
The starter that was in the car is 1 inch longer and about 1/2 larger diameter than the replacement one.
There was no way in hell the 'stock' one was coming out without disassembling something more.
I removed the cylinoid (however you spell it) from the old one while it was in the car and that gave me barely enough room to drag it out - I wish I had done this to begin with.
The new one, being smaller, popped right up in no problem - super easy!
So, those that may have the larger starter, remove the cylinoid before wasting two days trying to take it out.
Cheers!
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
Recently changed my starter on a base 91 Firebird. Disconnected my battery, jacked it up as high as I could, and placed jack stands safely around the area. I ratcheted the the nuts that I could get off the solenoid, then removed the retaining bolts to dislodge the starter, tilted the starter downward, and removed the remaining nuts off the solenoid. Then tilted the starter forward of the y-pipe and it dropped through. Replacement was just the opposite.
#20
Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
****Make sure you disconnect the wires from the sol. First! Next slide frward, then push the back end of it up vertical, it will take some playing with. Eventually it will drop right out.
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
For future people searching, like myself now; I’m sure people that got it out easily weren’t replacing a stock unit! There is no way it will fit through that opening! I just removed the stock starter 89 TA 305 Auto 64k. I tried fighting with it, impossible, do yourself a favor and remove the solenoid, then it comes right out!
Was going to replace with the same unit but not after taking that one out. I’m thinking of going with a 90s LT1 or LT4 corvette starter, search.
Was going to replace with the same unit but not after taking that one out. I’m thinking of going with a 90s LT1 or LT4 corvette starter, search.
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
The starter fits JUST FINE through that opening. If you point it nose down with the solenoid toward the front, it drops RIGHT THROUGH. (and the reverse)
Not saying you "can't" do it by removing the solenoid; that certainly makes it easier; but that's NOT the same thing as "it doesn't fit".
No matter how many REALLY OLD posts about this you necro and post this same thing onto.
And yes, just about ANY late-model gear-reduction starter of the right dimensions, is A UNIVERSE BETTER than the old World War 2 Delco direct-drive POS these cars came with. And yes, the various LT1 starters, as well as the 96-2000 truck ones, are VERY popular modernizations, as well as any number of aftermarket Denso and Hitachi based designs.
Not saying you "can't" do it by removing the solenoid; that certainly makes it easier; but that's NOT the same thing as "it doesn't fit".
No matter how many REALLY OLD posts about this you necro and post this same thing onto.
And yes, just about ANY late-model gear-reduction starter of the right dimensions, is A UNIVERSE BETTER than the old World War 2 Delco direct-drive POS these cars came with. And yes, the various LT1 starters, as well as the 96-2000 truck ones, are VERY popular modernizations, as well as any number of aftermarket Denso and Hitachi based designs.
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
For future people searching, like myself now; I’m sure people that got it out easily weren’t replacing a stock unit! There is no way it will fit through that opening! I just removed the stock starter 89 TA 305 Auto 64k. I tried fighting with it, impossible, do yourself a favor and remove the solenoid, then it comes right out!
Was going to replace with the same unit but not after taking that one out. I’m thinking of going with a 90s LT1 or LT4 corvette starter, search.
Was going to replace with the same unit but not after taking that one out. I’m thinking of going with a 90s LT1 or LT4 corvette starter, search.
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Re: How do you change the starter!?!?! 87 Firebird
So passionate, I love it! The use of caps really accentuates your POINTS! (however wrong that blanket statement is.) You know this really is a great community, It’s why I’ve contributed so much over the last 14 years! Hard to find a place where you’re chastised for using, and not using the search function! Berated for contributing experiences to old searchable topics, lol. (Instead of starting a new topic for some real punishment) Truly sorry I added my experience to several old topics, that are commonly searched, just to help others in the future, won’t happen again.
Edit: Sorry future readers you had to read this
Last edited by ScottsBlown; 08-08-2020 at 11:38 PM. Reason: Reasons
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