Which starter?

[Eliems]

My big old starter is not doing the job very well, when things get hot it lacks power to turn my 460 over.

Parts shop said they couldn't come up with a starter that would work for some reason ... what do you all recommend?

Thanks for your help.

[jdean]

Jegs has one that will work. It is smaller and more powerful than the stock one.

[bret a ewing]

Powermaster is not a bad choice, but if you want the best (IMHO) throw in a Tilton.

[ByronRACE]

Manual or Automatic?
Which Flywheel?
Which Bellhousing?

Assuming you have a manual transmission 460 with a standard 176 tooth flywheel and a bellhousing that maintains stock starter geometry, you can get a nice gear-reduction mini-starter off of a production 1995 Ford F350 460 Manual Trans Truck. They are about $120 + core at any parts store, and usually come with a lifetime warranty.

That said, you should also be made aware that there is no starter-to-flywheel gear lash adjustment on a 385 series engine starter mount. So, you should check the lash. If it's wrong, you could damage the flywheel or starter or both. When I installed the starter in my combo, the lash was very wrong. I have a Lakewood bell with a 176 tooth flywheel. I had to modify my starter so I could obtain the proper gear lash and I believe that's due to the Lakewood bell. Hopefully you won't have to.

Byron

[cobrashoch]

Byron - Lakewood 385 bells require a FE flywheel and starter I believe. I forget the proper combo but if memory serves me right it's on the lakewood site. Excellent starter tip BTW. Bet the automatic starter is just as good too. With that I can only ask, one wire or two? (it don't matter)
cobrashock

[ByronRACE]

The story I got from Lakewood is that their magic bellhousing works with ANY flywheel...whether 176, 184, or anything in-between and that I'm the only one in the universe to report this problem. LOL

The story I got from Tilton is that someone at Lakewood originally made a MISTAKE when designing the 385 bell and designed it for the FE flywheel because of a mistake made on the mockup engine. Who knows if that is true.

Considering that the most popular flywheel for a 385 series is 176 tooth, it seems ridiculous that lakewood hasn't fixed this issue or that some starter company hasn't come up with a special version for this combo. I'm going to measure my geometry and publish what needs to be done to the starter to fix it in a cad drawing when I get time.

One thing is for sure; I'm not pulling the engine/trans just to change the flywheel to one that isn't a common 385 part to fix lakewoods mistake. I'd rather change the starter. When I do pull the engine, the lakewood bell will go on ebay and I'll get a McLeod modular unit. I wish that was available when I did my build.

Byron

[devonhealth]

Had same problems with my 460. was using a CAT aftermarket starter. Put in a top of the line Tilton, zings over hot or cold everytime

[ByronRACE]

Different starter manufacturers have attempted to solve this problem in different ways. Some have elongated the teeth on the starter gear. Some have changed the lash away from Fords spec to a more median value that works better with most bellhousing/flywheel combos. It doesn't surprise me that changing manufacturers solves a problem for a particular combo.

I just wish someone would put a lash adjuster on the starter...that would solve the whole problem for everyone. It could be as simple as a boss and a side-bolt with an ovalized bottom bolt hole, and an inspection hole so you can see the lash. That's really the right way to fix this problem.

Byron

[John S Peterson]

If you read back on all the the problems 429/460 0wners have had with bellhousing and starter arrangements it would take you all all night. There is
.020 difference in diameter from 176 to 184 toothed, 176 being the larger...once I changed to that and a CVR starter my problems no longer existed......worked for me.

JP