QuestionHi, I have a 66 chev. My starter just went out (again). I received a chrome replacement from "Jeg's". I noticed that they gave me shims with the new starter & I dont currently have any installed. Do 66 impala starters need to be shimmed?
This is a weekend car & I currently replace my starter approx. 24-36 months. Is that normal? I'd like to get more life on the chrome if possible.... Thanks!
(engine- SS 327 W/ 350-HEADS)
Answer24 to 36 months seems a bit short for the life of a starter but if you have been buying rebuilt starters, and especially if you have headers or anything non-stock about your exhaust system or heads, that may be the reason they are dying young, especially if it is the solenoids that are going out. I had similar problems on my big block Chevy when I put headers on it, because the exhaust heat was cooking the solenoids. I switched to heavy duty solenoids, and also added heat shielding on the downpipe - and that got me a life of about 50K miles per starter.
As for the shims, if the starter sounds OK, it is OK. If you hear a nasty scraping sound, it means the pinion is not engaging the ring gear properly - you'll have to add shims and experiment to find out what you need to make it sound right.
Dick
