Best starter for Smallcar Bellhousing

[gertiebob]

Syncro with a Smallcar conversion.

I did a search and cannot seem to find a good recent answer to this question.

I am replacing the engine so my engine bay is empty. I figure this is a good time to upgrade the starter. Current one is pretty shabby looking and old.

Is there a good replacement without paying the price SC is asking for a rebuilt one? I see they claim 1.3KW and the ones I'm finding are 1KW. I will pay the price if I need to or if I cannot find a new one (not a remanufactured one).

I don't know what Subaru car/year, etc. Smallcar has based their bellhousing on so I can't do an accurate google search.

Any help on this greatly appreciated!

[Sodo]

Move your starter ground from the far end of the gearbox to “direct” fromthe starter mounting bolt to the chassis.
If could be that (older?) Smallcar conversions needed a stronger starter because they lost amperage grounding across the corroded transaxle bolts.

A ground thats

1) bolt-to-case
to
2) bolt-to-case
to
3) bolt-to-case
to
4)bolt-to-case
to
5)bolt-to-case
to
6)bolt-to-case
to
7)bolt-to-case

…..seven times….. outdoors, dissimilar metals
is asking for trouble - someday.

Use a single copper cable. $15.
then delete that forward transaxle ground strap.
Id try that before changing the starter.
And with a new starter too.
_________________


'90 Westy EJ25, NEW oil rings (!) 2Peloquins, 3knobs, SyncroShop pressure-oiled pinion-bearing & GT mainshaft, filtered, cooled gearbox.
'87 Tintop w 47k 53k, '12 SmallCar EJ25, cooled filtered original gearbox
....KTMs, GasGas, SPOT mtb

[syncrodoka]

The smallcar bellhousing uses a starter from a manual transmission subaru. Their part number should point you in the right direction with a Google search since it is a subaru number.
I am pretty sure mine came from the '94 donor the engine came from

[gertiebob]

Sodo, my old starter was working fine. Just UGLY!

Syncrodoka. I never thought of using their part number for a search! I'm not that smart. I see that it does lead to some. Thanks!!!

[Sodo]

[gertiebob]

[Captain Pike]

I went with the part #. dont recall now but saved $100 or so.
_________________
LEARN TO SELF RESCUE
59 Panel bus, 1966 Single cab. 73' 181. 73 Westy. 91' H6 Vanagon 3.3L.
....Bad Sneakers....

[Sodo]

[gertiebob]

Okay, adding to the saga here. If you have an older smallcar bellhousing, you cannot use an adapter and new/better starter.

Apparently, the old Smallcar bellhousings had a hole perfectly sized for a different starter than newer ones; one with a smaller snout.

Soooo, my new adapter with starter simply will not work. It physically will not fit. I need to stay with older rebuilt ones or buy a new bellhousing (which I'm not going to do).

Seems like the suggestions of adding a better ground make sense and maybe will give the old starter a little more umph.

[Ggiomett]

Gotta love how “performance upgrade” just means paying triple for something rebuilt in someone’s garage. Classic vanlife tax