OK. New starter is going in the truck, but I had to interrupt the process long enough to snap a few comparison pics and post up so you folks can SEE the difference between the high-torque starter from DB Electrical and the plain jane stocker.

Needless to say, I was fairly warned about it being "much larger", "a tight fit", "really heavy", "really heavy duty", etc.


.....



...but I was SHOCKED when I opened the package and saw this monster laying in the box (which felt more like a full-size battery was inside).

Now I get to enjoy the pleasure of putting this puppy in by myself this afternoon!

Obviously... the stock starter is the dirty one on top, and below.... well, you can see for yourself!

 

You're going to have a "little" joint pain after that one.

 

Next to the DB the stock starter look like it came from a lawn mower!

 

DB Electrical ? never heard of them.. Will it fit? Where do you buy them? How well does it work? Ok,, nuff questions SB starts in 15 min. :-)

 

Let us know how it goes Pete. Some had to grind something down a little for it to fit. I hope you take pics.

 

Linky

I just installed the standard starter on Thursday. So far, I'm impressed with how quick it spins the engine over.

Seeing that starter I now wish I'd dropped the exta $35 for it. Oh well, next time.

 

I believe it was the cross member/engine cradle that needed clearancing for some. Also the main power(battery) wire needs the lug on the end flattened instead of being at a 90* angle.

 

Please post the specifications for both starter motors and any links to data. I'm doing an analysis of the various forms of "engine braking HP" and I'm interested in how much starter motor HP is required to crank various types of engines at a given cranking RPM because prior to the engine firing this starter motor HP is equal to the engine's "total engine braking HP" at that cranking RPM. For example if you check this link...

Ram Starter Specifications
Dodge Ram Starter and Specifications

...you'll see that an 8.0L gasoline engine requires a 1.4 kW=1.9 HP starter motor, whereas a 5.9L diesel engine requires a 2.7 kW=3.6 HP starter motor! That implies it takes up to 90% more HP to crank the smaller displacement diesel! Most people claim that gasoline engine's provide more "engine braking HP" than diesel engine's do but according to my analysis so far that's just a myth!

 

Here's a link to the DB standard starter
No specs on the high torque unit on their web site.

 

Got 'er done.

Dan... I ALREADY have major body and joint pain from doing the upper and lower ball joints yesterday on my wife's Excursion... both sides! Advil, here I come!

I'll have to admit, Rick, that I did not take any pics because I just sort of figured that the R&R for a starter is simple and basic enough that the few "modifications" mentioned by Mike (Ford79) could be explained adequately without pics. Sorry. I can take some pics of the installed unit once I get back next weekend, but it's too dark already tonight to get good shots.

Installation steps... straight forward.

- Disconnect battery cables.
- Disconnect electrical connections on starter
- Remove housing bolts on starter and be ready to catch that puppy... it's not exactly lightweight
- Straighten connector tab on main starter cable
- Install new starter
- Install solenoid wire and bend connector as necessary for proper fit
- install main starter cable
- reconnect battery cables
- Driver.... start your engine!

As for clearance, it's a definitely a snug fit, and you have to wrangle the bugger into place just right in order to even get it in. I can see why some might have had to grind a cross member just a tad for a different year model where the opening might have a different geometry. All in all, there is about 1/8th of an inch clearance between the back end of the starter motor (which faces the front of the truck) and the cross member.

OK... the required modifications.

1) Mike is right. The main starter cable has a connector that is prebent at 90° and also has a flat tab extending down one side of it so that the connector does not spin during nut-tightening. All of this has to be flattened, which is most easily accomplished with no starter in position. Just use a hammer and flatten it out against a frame member.

2) The solenoid wire comes stock with a straight round post connector and one of those little tab thingies like the main cable. The tab does not need to be straightened, but the connector needs to be bent to 90°, and this bend should not be made until you are making your electrical connections so you make sure to bend it in the proper direction - this becomes obvious while you're at this point of the install.

The reason why you have to straighten the main cable connector is because of two issues:
1) the terminal post on the new starter is at right angles to the starter body, whereas the stock starter's post is in line with the starter's body, and
2) the main cable is not long enough to simply bolt up without straightening the connector blade.

So how does she run? The engine definitely turns faster (approximately 8% since the new unit has 13 teeth - one more than the stocker). Startup is quick and it just sounds like the engine is not struggling to start.

 

That thing is huge! This is definitely on my list of things to do! Nice write up and great comparison pic.

 

It's a tight fit but well worth it. Just use some thread locker on the bolts. I had to install inserts when I did mine last year.

Turns over quickly in cold weather. Much better then stock

 

Well thats definatly a massive starter! How much is it price wise compared to a stock starter? Another great job Pete!

 

I believe the DB high torque is $123.xx plus shipping.
The standard starter is $89.xx plus shipping.
No core charge either.

All the looking around I did when I was in need of a starter was anywhere from $160 to $200 for a rebuilt from a parts store.

$266.11 plus $100 core from FTEPartsGuy



Sorry for the hijack Pete

 

I have one of those high torques sitting here in my office, cant wait to install one of these days.

How much faster does it spin over? Pretty noticeable difference?