Mopar-Performance-mini-starter as purchased |
Mopar Performance mini-starter modified |
Jimmy writes: The old starter broke and destroyed the ring gear welded to the front of the torque convertor. I wanted a MADE IN USA starter, so I tried to put a RobbMc mini starter into my 1965 Plymouth with a 426 Hemi. After checking the starter gear engagement into the flywheel, I found it had 75% gear engagement, so I had to return it for a refund. I did not want to use a starter that only produced partial engagement.
I then bought a Mopar Performance Hemi starter, part number P5007860AB, which is made in Tennessee. The pinion gear is about .040" closer to the ring gear than the RobbMc starter was. The Mopar Performance starter is about 2 inches shorter, but much larger around.
I had problems mounting the Mopar Performance Hemi starter. The starter is sold as “fitting all RB and Hemi blocks.” There is an adapter on the starter that moves the terminal posts 90 degrees, away from the engine block. The only problem is that the adapter interfered with a freeze plug boss on that side of the block, preventing the starter from bolting up. The snout of the starter would not fit into the locating hole in the back side of the bell housing. The starter was pushed away at the rear from the engine block. It was either return the starter, or try modifying the adapter so it would clear the freeze plug boss on the block. I really hated trying that, as it would either fit, or it wouldn’t, and if it did not fit, the adapter would be altered enough that I could not return it.
Onward. I used a Metabo cut off saw to trim the corner of the insulated adapter at the 90 degree bend, probably 1/4" to 3/8" removed. That ended up not being enough, so I re-drilled a small hole in the mounting tab in the adapter where the ignition wire bolts to, so I could rotate that adapter even more from the block. After working most of the day trying, and fitting for clearance, I was able to trim and rotate the adapter enough to clear, making the starter mount. Since I trimmed away the adapter, besides removing excess metal inside the plastic insulated adapter, I also removed some of the hard plastic insulator on the outside of the area trimmed. I ended wrapping it all in electrical tape.
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Mopar-Performance-mini-starter as purchased |
Mopar Performance mini-starter modified |
I am not at all crazy of the mods I had to make to enable the starter to bolt up though.
I have the same starter (not sure if it carries the same part number) on my 1963 Polara 440 cu.in. car, and I did not have the same problem.
I am passing this starter report along to help others in case someone is also considering using one of these Mopar Performance starters.
November 1, 2011