Re: V8 starter

["Ben Howell" <bhowell@rmii.com>]

> My starter's starting to go bad on me (at 153k miles). Symptoms are a
> terrible metallic noise more and more frequently (now up to once every
> two weeks or so) when I go to start it up. Attempts to have it removed
> and rebuilt locally (I'm an hour and a half from the nearest dealer,
> whom I try to avoid anyway for all the reasons spread of record over the
> years on this list) have resulted in my being told (by a very
> accomodating mechanic who didn't charge me anything for lots of wasted
> time) that he couldn't figure out how to remove it (the bolts apparently
> didn't correspond to what he had in a book or microfiche), and I would
> probably have to take it to the dealer.

  Don't go back to that mechanic........he may have been accommodating, but
if he can't figure out to get a starter out, then he probably isn't worth
the $55+/hour he is going to charge you. ...or he has been working on
Chevy's too long. :-)

> Has anyone had occasion to remove the starter from a V8?

 A few here and there.

> Is it really that difficult?

 No.

> Does anybody have a diagram or instructions that they
> could send me?

 Disconnect the battery! 

  Then you need to remove the oil filter (will come out with an ordinary
oil filter wrench or a 30mm socket) . A) the starter won't even come out
unless it's out and B) you won't even be able to get to the bolts that hold
it on if it's still in there. Once the oil filter is out, there is going to
be a 19mm (head) bolt that is threaded into the block at the bottom of the
starter and there is going to be a 19mm (head) bolt at the top of the
starter, but the one on the top has a nut on it (on the back side of the
bellhousing). I am not sure, but I think the best access to hold that nut
is through the wheel well, so removing the right side front wheel would be
a good idea. 

  With the exception if the oil filter, it is an almost identical procedure
to the I5 starter removal.

HTH!


Laters, Ben



> Thanks in advance. I'll put my other current question in a separate
> message.
> 
> Dave Nelson
> dnelson@midwest.net
> 1990 V8 153000 miles