I was hoping this thread would go in the direction of "I bought X starter X years ago" and its still working great" or "I bought this starter and it's a piece of crap" as opposed to debating between the stock starter and the faster-spinning ones.

 

Mean Green 6.4

 

I bought a salvaged starter two years ago. It has not failed.

 

You guys who went for the salvage option, how do you know the mileage? Did you walk around junkyards looking for trucks with low miles and have them pull the starter?

So Jack, in those two years how long has your starter been in service? Has your truck been down a full year? And was it a 6.4 or 6.7 starter?

 

Does anyone know who makes the Ford factory starters? I think I read somewhere in another thread that Denso made the 6.0L starters.

 

car-part.com lists year and mileage and will have the yards in your area.

 

Chris, a few months . I knew you’d pick up on that, it was tongue in cheek. I can find you the original thread on this.

The salvage part search sites will give mileage and some show an image. I went through eBay and bought from a salvage site, it showed mileage and images. I specifically looked for the Visteon label, the OE manufacturer of the starter, as well as low mileage. I bought a 6.4, but the early 6.7L at that time were a little cheaper, and lower mileage ones were available. Starters and alternators, I try to get something around 75k miles or lower. As with any used parts I get on eBay, I ask questions about the part and it’s condition since I’m not hands-on to see it. I’ve been able to use that message trail to get not the part described/shown returned on their dime since eBay can play referee if needed.

Here are are some examples on eBay, but mileage is high. Also after the swell of people having buying 6.4 starters, the price has gone up, but not with the 6.7.








Car-parts is one of the online salvage sites that allow you to hunt, including locally. Some have pictures of the part of the truck. If local, you can inspect the part or if interested, grab some other stuff off the truck. If not local, email or call, some will not hang up on you when you ask for pictures.





LKQ is another salvage source for used parts, local and nationwide. Sometimes you can get pictures.

 

I believe the thread that got me motivated do do the video.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...the-6-0-a.html


Again, some are concerned about using salvaged parts. I get it, I’m been bit, but so far with due diligence I’ve been OK. I used to have a neighbor who owned a used car dealership. Practically nothing they put on cars is new or rebuilt. It’s all salvage. But you don’t want to salvage a remanded part, kind of counterproductive of the goal of getting a well made part.

 

That is not an OEM starter, I had one in hand at their store.

Ford makes two Motorcraft branded starters. The one you linked is the made in China version that usually costs under $300.

The other is the OEM version made by Denso that starts at $400 + core, it is not made in China. Many people are unaware they have two versions.

 

Both trucks have the 6.4 in them and in each case I went to B&R Auto Wrecking not that far from the house and they got me the OEM units.
The last one I took a look at and the brushes were in great shape. The bearings were a little stiff and so I stopped at McGuire Bearing Company
in Tacoma and picked up a new set of bearings. Our starters use bearings and not bushings. I replaced the motor bearings and greased the splines.
What I should of done before I did that was check the unloaded current and RPM but I did not think of it at the time. The starter did seem to be
happier with the new bearings. I also cleaned the Commutator and checked to be sure that there were not any shorts between the bars. and
for the icing on that cake I put a new solenoid on it. Right now I have only found one place in Tacoma that does rebuilding and has parts in stock.

 

About that Mean Green, did you inquire before ordering what was the difference between the 6.0 and 6.4? I wonder if all of their versions are faster spinning.

Also, I can't help but wonder if the integrated solenoid is a good thing or a bad thing. It does look like a solid unit, that's fer sure.

 

Good one Jack. What can I say, you did warn us you weren't funny.

Did Visteon make the OE starters for the 6.0, 6.4, and 6.7? Because I am impressed with the years and miles that my OE starter has endured and is still going.

I'm still on the fence about salvage parts. I don't think I could ever trust the miles listed with those parts. And while I do expect them to last many more than two years, I would sleep a lot better having a warranty to start with.

 

Can you tell the difference just by looking at the Chinese and Denso versions, or do you have to feel the weight difference?


It appears there is some dispute about who made the OEM starters. Jack says Visteon. Or is it just that Denso is now making the replacement parts for Ford?

 

My understanding is Visteon, but it’s not direct like it would be who made calipers, brake pads and rotors. I may have some other tell somewhere but I’d have to hunt.

Denso was active on the 6.4, making the alternator I believe. It’s possible the starter too. But Visteon is in my head.

 

I have almost 5 years on my salvage 6.4 starter on my 03 and still going strong.