What kind of starter are you running on your off-roadin trucks?

I've had $50 Ford starters on there and i've killed two in the past 6 months (From Mud). And i'm told by the part store owner that the way the exhaust is set up on the truck, the starters usually go out about once a year due to heat from the exhaust pipe.

So i've got a free replacement coming in tomorrow, and then i'll seal up the bellhousing to keep mud out. I debated it for awhile and I think i'll keep it sealed.

So i'm just curious what everyone has on their off-roadin trucks. And is a high torque mini worth the money. What is the use of one anyways? Just high torque, low draw?

 

We have had a lot of starters go on our rangers and they almost never see any offroad. On the other hand the guy that owned the f150 before me had a few go cause of mud and I am expecting a few to go considering it's completely open for the tire to throw mud on it.

 

i just have one of those cheap reman starters on my pickup. i usually don't worry about it, tell it starts to drag a bit, than take it off and wash it out..

 

Yeah, i'm considering a high torque mini, if I can get a good deal.

I've just spent the last couple hours mocking up my flatbed. So hopefully in a few days i'll have the truck running and looking good.

 

Not so much ON as IN, the inspection plate was off the transmission so mud got in, and found its way into the starter.

Cleaned it up and the part store will replace it for free. (So long they don't know its seen off-road use.) And if the guy tells me he can get me a mini for cheap i'll just trade the starter in for credit towards the high torque one.

 

i use autozones starters because of their return policy and bc you can find one just about anywhere in the US. not to mention i carry a spare with me when i head out (at camp not in the bronco).

i wrap the section of exhaust closest to the starter with header wrap. i havent had a problem yet. also look into the foil insulation you find on newer trucks. if you can snag some off of a junkyard truck and wrap the exhaust you should be good to go.

the mud part is always going to be an issue... dunno what to tell you there.

-cutts-

 

the high torque starters are for high compression motors with lots of timing that are hard to turn over, don't worry about it if you have a stock bottom end

get the starter with the longest warrenty you can find and then just keep taking it back when it dies and if you get water in it don't let it sit for too long without using it because everything will start to rust in it, and if you put grease on the whole thing it helps to keep water out

 

Alrighty thanks.

I was thinking of making a heat shield for it.

 

yeah i had a good ac delco starter in the 300 it went havent torn it appart yet but the reman i got has no where near the power that one did so im gonna rebuild it and use the reman as a spare

heat wrap is a good idea...the rigs i work on all have heat wrap even though the starter is on the opposite side (for that reason) they use it for the intake which is made of plastic and they usually have wrap on the turbo (exhaust side) and the exh. pipe that follows and even though theres maybe 6 inches between the turbo and the intake ive never seen one melt and those turbos put out triple the heat any gassers exhaust ever will

 

Alright. Thanks for the input guys.

 

I guess i'm getting a high torque mini haha.

I had my dad take the starter in for me, they won't replace it for free if its off-road use, and so I thought it would be less suspicious if my dad took it in instead of me. Two starters in three months seems a little fast.

Anyways, I guess the guy at the part store gave him a deal on a mini so he bought me one haha.

 

[QUOTE=Prozon;7358867]I guess i'm getting a high torque mini haha.
/QUOTE]

everbody I know that got one of those never regretted it!

 

I like it alot more. I had to wire in a switch, I had a problem with my ignition wire so I just put a push button on my dash to start the truck lol. Alot faster then ripping apart the wiring harness or dash to get to the wire.

Truck runs great once again! High torque starter turns that pretty good. Hah.