I want to get a mini starter for my Bird...Are the ones on Ebay from D.B. Electrical any good? The price is very low but are they just junk for that price? Also I guess the mini starters are not a direct swap? I have read something about needing to run a second wire?...Thanks for any advice.
I got mine from a junkyard for $8 and its still working fine.
The solenoid is actually on the starter (think of a chevy style starter) so you have to run the power wire to the opposite side of the relay on the fender. (what some of us call the solenoid). Easy peasy. If you can change your underwear, you can install it. ;)
There's writeups everywhere..google mini starter, or permanent magnet gear reduction starter, etc...
Lots of people swear by the mini starter. i honestly think there is very little gain. if yours is bad, swap it. its hard to tell the differance in my opinion. i will say this though, when i busted my clutch cable, i started out in first gear with the starter and never had any problems.
Bullshiznit.
Less weight, easier starting, more room to change it should it need it later on, etc.
The easier starting is a big benefit. It's got a "reduced" gear ratio, therefore it takes less current to start the engine it's attached to.
Little gain, eh? I swear by them. Anything 5.0/5.8 from roughly 93 up will have them. They say the '92+ F trucks had them but my 92 didn't. The ones I have all came from '95 Thunderbirds with the 3.8, I also snagged the 3G alternators from these same cars. Both are direct bolt-ons to a 5.0. Happy hunting.
Between the sn-95 t-5 having the smaller hole, and the f-150 flywheel having a different offset, it was easy for me to pick the mini starter.
i had very little if any differance after the swap. I completely forgot i did it honestly. i don't think my cougar starts any different then my tbird.
I'm not sure id pursue the swap unless i needed a new starter. not saying its a waste of time, just that its not that big of a diffrance.
Ive bought 3 starters from db electric. They are good quality pieces. I have one on the 460 i have and it would roll that turd over so fast youd think you forgot to put the plugs in. I highly recommend db electric
I purchased the DB starter for my atv, and its been 4 yrs and no problems.
Would it be possible to short or otherwise bypass the solenoid on the mini-starter and keep the one on the fender?
PYou simply use both. just hook it back up.to.your solinoid, done deal.
i bought mine from PA-Perfomance, both the 130Amp alt and Starter have been going strong for 15+ years... plus they are backed by a lifetime warranty
The PMGR starter draws probably 2/3 the current of the antiquated field types... If you have a good battery and a 6 to 1 compression engine, there probably isn't any difference...
My '93 Grand Marquis still started when the battery was so low the doors would not unlock, had to use the key to get in...
Run a 4 ga wire from the battery side of the starter solenoid on the inner apr0n over to the threaded post to the new mini starter solenoid. Run a 10 ga. wire from the starter side of the solenoid on the inner apr0n to the male spade connector on the mini starter solenoid. That's how it was on my starter, no more no less.
I got my mini starter from a salvage yard for $25 then took it straight to an alternator shop and had them rebuild it for $40. It's been on my Coupe for about 10 years now. Did the same thing on my T-Bird when the 351W went in.
Darren