Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

General => General Fox T-Bird/Cougar Discussion => Topic started by: fordguy on June 27, 2006, 04:39:14 PM

Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: fordguy on June 27, 2006, 04:39:14 PM
i put the mini starter in today, what a difference. got a bran new one off ebay for like $65.00. :headbang:
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: DVP on June 27, 2006, 05:00:30 PM
cool good deal. how was install?
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: fordguy on June 27, 2006, 05:28:45 PM
easy. it came with the small wire. you will have to change the cable from the starter to the solinoid to a double eye cable ( 60" long ),as the original will not work, and swap it to the terminal that the positive battery cable attaches to (at the solinoid). then the small wire from the starter goes where the one you just swapped went. car starts real easy now.
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: TurboCoupe50 on June 27, 2006, 06:00:29 PM
Those small gear reduction starters are amazing, which leads to this story.

About 10 years ago my mom had me stop by and look at her '93 Grand Marquis, said the keyless entry wasn't working. Sure enough you could hear the solenoid trying to unlock, but not completeing the cycle. Well for some reason I decided to start the engine and it fired right up, but I noticed it cranked a little slow hummm... Tried the power locks, "whump" they work fine... Dang maw, you have a bad battery.

I still marvel at how that little starter could crank a 4.6 on a battery that was so bad it wouldn't even unlock the doors.
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: Masejoer on June 27, 2006, 06:51:49 PM
This thread reminded me about this...just went to ebay and got one.

Double eye cable?
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: fordguy on June 27, 2006, 07:00:09 PM
Quote from: Seek
This thread reminded me about this...just went to ebay and got one.

Double eye cable?


your stock cable has a bolt in it at the starter,and it's not big enough to fit the stud of the new starter. you need one with an "eye", ie like the side that attaches to the soliniod.
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: Masejoer on June 27, 2006, 10:03:24 PM
Alright, I'll be sure to look at that before beginning the swap. Thanks for the tip.
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: ipsd on June 27, 2006, 10:36:32 PM
I did the mini starter on my 2.3t. All I did was use a dremel to enlarge the hole in the end of the starter wire. Then I just ran a small wire from the main wire to the other terminal on the starter. I never switched any cables at the main seliniod. Haven't had any problems and its been a year.
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: CougarSE on June 27, 2006, 10:40:25 PM
I don't recall exactly but I think I drilled the hole out on my existing cable.
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: Masejoer on July 20, 2006, 07:50:22 PM
I don't know if its obvious or not (wasn't to me, but don't want to be in the heat trying to figure it out), but HOW are you supposed to get the top bolt out of the starter?
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: CougarSE on July 20, 2006, 08:20:33 PM
turn the tires to the right...  bout 4 feet of extension.. a swivel then go through the oval hole in the k member...
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: Masejoer on July 20, 2006, 08:22:11 PM
Yeah, I figured it out. 95 out there...and the starter won't cool down. I burnt myself dislodging it
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: Masejoer on July 20, 2006, 10:48:02 PM
so much oil on that thing (rear main). Anyways, its in and working fine. Had to move the amplifier wire to the battery terminal as I have too many things on the starter relay bolt...nut wouldn't fit anymore
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: CougarCoupe88 on July 22, 2006, 07:02:49 PM
i just bought my car came with the starter lol  mustang of course im talking about. i still like the sound of the older starter cranking over
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: Masejoer on July 22, 2006, 07:56:46 PM
Yeah, sound wise, the other one is more appealing to me because its different. I'd rather have the benefits of the pmgr one though.
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: Clayton on July 22, 2006, 10:05:48 PM
Quote from: CougarSE
turn the tires to the right...  bout 4 feet of extension.. a swivel then go through the oval hole in the k member...



uh, why not just use the the gap in the motor mount? its a direct strait line to the starter... use some extentions.. it works :D
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: beaterjeep on July 27, 2006, 12:54:22 PM
Quote from: 87thunderbirdBlackJack
uh, why not just use the the gap in the motor mount? its a direct strait line to the starter... use some extentions.. it works :D


Because some people (like me) like to do things the harder way because we don't think of the easier way until afterwards.
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: Drewstang on August 06, 2006, 02:38:37 PM
I bought a mini-starter off ebay not too long ago for my Rustang, and it was too big to fit in the dust plate. What really sucks is I went all out and got new wires and terminals and I can't use them with the stock starter.
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: Haystack on August 06, 2006, 04:57:38 PM
well, sell them on the board as a kit and get your money back.
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: CougarSE on August 06, 2006, 06:23:07 PM
Quote from: 87thunderbirdBlackJack
uh, why not just use the the gap in the motor mount? its a direct strait line to the starter... use some extentions.. it works :D

You aint getttin nuttin through that area on a 3.8.
Title: my bird sounds like a mopar
Post by: Haystack on August 06, 2006, 07:05:25 PM
I got it to work on my 87 when I switched the starter out with my 86.