jcb999

Well, when the old 400 gets up to operating temp, the starter will not budge it. I currently have a wallyworld bat with 750 cranking amps and from what I can tell, (http://www.moroso.com/catalog/catego...?catcode=42001 ) not much bigger bat will fit.

The hold down they use is set at about 6.5" max width. Most of the 1k amp batteries are 7+"

I got one of those little jump start boosters for the time being.

Vader

JCB,

I generally try to install the electrically largest battery that will physically fit in the opening provided (I'm just kinda **** that way). I have a Delco 75-6YR-800CA in my T/A. I couldn't find one commonly available with more than 800CA @ 20°F in that size.

With your extra cubes and tight engine compartment, coupled with a hot starter, you may need to consider relocating a second battery in the rear of the car, with the added benefit of weight distribution. Or you could try installing a gear reduction starter like you'll find on an LT1 or L99 in the bone yards. They are a bit more capable of cranking against hot compression.

1986redbird

I had a similar problem with a 86 gmc pickup, it would start fine when cold but as soon as it warmed up it acted like the battery was dead, let it cool and it was fine again. after buying a few new batteries of different amperage a friend told me that the head of a starter (where the bendix is) can actually distort when hot and bind it up so bad that a fully charged battery won't turn it. I replaced the starter and never had the problem again.

just food for thought !!!

jcb999

I already have a permanent magnet high output starter (i think they came on 305 5speed cars in 92). But its not gear reduction. Its pretty stout and pretty new.

I think i can get something a little bigger to fit if I modify the hold down plate. that keeping me from getting something 7.5" wide and if I can get something wider it will also be slightly longer and the length has good clearnce.
thanks


Part of the problem is now I just cranked in a couple of degrees of extra timing (which it really loved) and it went from slightly bad to unusable.

jcb999

Advance auto.. 75bucks..

I think its a group 76 or something.

Dr. Pepper

I am not familiar with any PM starters used in the later models but all of the later model starters I have seen were too weak. They would all do about like you are describing. They would just get the job done when they were fresh and the timing was a little retarded. Once they got hot it really was too much of a task. I am not certain the starter you have is that much better. How old is your battery? If its more than a year old it may just be dead. Having a starter drag pulls a ton of current and can weaken a battery fast. You also didn't indicate what you are using for battery cables. If you haven't done so already replace the battery cables with 2 gauge or larger wires. If you still think it may be the battery get a set of jumper cables and another car. Use the jumper cables to parallel your battery with the other battery. With a descent set of jumper cables this will give you more power than just a slightly larger battery. A nice experiment to try since it is free and will tell you if extra battery power will cure it or not.

jcb999

bc when I would use one of these, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cg...item=601460680
it would spin over ok.


The wires for the bat are all zero gague

I was told that this PM starter was almost as strong as the gear-reduction ones. But, if i run into more probs this summer i might have to try another.
At the time i bought it, i could not find a gear reduction that would fit the T5 bellhousing and 153 tooth fw. But they probably have them now..

Dr. Pepper

Ok, sounds like you have done your homework. You probably just need a new battery more than a bigger battery. I am not too thrilled with the factory PMGR starters. Their gear drive seems to be questionable when it comes to durability. So if you have a more efficienct starter without the factory gear reduction then you probably are better off. If you decide to go with gear reduction I would have to recommend going to the aftermarket.

chevymad

I have an optima at work we use as our shop battery. One day a car with a bad starter come in. I hooked up our scope to see how many amps the starter was drawing and put the optima in while I charged the customers battery. When I tried to start the car the scope showed the optima putting out 1100 amps! It will also fit in your hold down.

I tried to jump start the bosses motorhome with the same optima not long ago. It actually put out enough through the side terminals that it burned one of the side posts out. We're still using the battery just have to use the top posts now. The battery is now 7 years old and has been our shop battery for 6. A guy traded it in because he didnt like the way it fit his corvette. Boss saw it before I was able to take it home.