Ed, what is your exhaust setup? Starter don't like heat. If you don't have a good breeze over the starter that could be eating them up. Have you inspected the dead ones for a common cause?
Lots of folks wrap their starters to ward off heat from the block and more often from the exhaust manifolds and collectors.
I've used headers on all my motorhomes ( all P30 ) with great luck. Headers do a great job of heat dissipation. You can also blow air at your starter with some simple ducting. Do you still have an A.I.R. pollution pump on your rig?
Check out the size of the hose on my fresh air intake photo, you can buy hose like that from Lockleer Woodworking and duct air from the grill area to the top of the starter for cheap.... while you're at it you can a new air intake to help your engine breath better too.
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Glen Coombe AIR #8416
1984 28' Funeral Coach
Golf Professional Sales Rolling Showroom
"I'm not an expert. But I did sleep in an Airstream last night."
There are a couple of thing you can do. First, these starters came from the factory with a sheet-metal shield between them and the exhaust manifold. If you don't have one, that is certainly not helping the longevity of your starters.
The second thing that has worked for me, is to get one of the new, reduction-geaar starters for your engine. They cost a bit more, but offer more torque in a smaller package, and being smaller it stays away from the heat more. I have one of these on our conversion van, and it works very well.
Not sure about year to year but I will be replacing the starter on my 1990 454 P-30 chassis with a new starter for a 1996 454. The 1996 is much smaller yet has higher trox. The smaller size keeps the starter cooler leading to longer life.Not sure but I think the rebuilt is around $150 and a new one is $185.Garry
Not sure about year to year but I will be replacing the starter on my 1990 454 P-30 chassis with a new starter for a 1996 454. The 1996 is much smaller yet has higher trox. The smaller size keeps the starter cooler leading to longer life.Not sure but I think the rebuilt is around $150 and a new one is $185.Garry
That's the one I was referring to. I have one ins talled on my van, it works great.
do yourself a favor and get a heat prtected starter from www.4alterstart.com
I did and have not had any problems in over 3 years. Its well worth a few extra bucks.
I also wrapped the incoming wires to it with thermal protect tape.
I later went back to them for a 135 amp alternator. it has been flawless as well.
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Rallys twice a year..Lots of fun, food, and aluminum.
As some have already said heat is the enemy of starters and many other electrical componets as well. Another common problem and enemy is ground circuts. This is particularly so in older vehicles. These cause low voltage and starter deaths as quickly as heat----Pieman
All good tips ! The starter to install is the late GM starter its a PMGR ,meaning permanent magnet gear reduction,They work great .Do not strike them with a hammer if they dont crank,it breaks the magnets inside the housing ,death to the starter. there are gear reduction starters offered at Summit racing mail order too.Many brands ,but you want the gear reduction style only .They use less amperage to crank and have high torque,they have the starter heat wrap also ,go online to summitracing.com.
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