Mini-starter compatibility

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Robj

Robj

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I just picked up a mini-starter for $16 at Pick-n-Pull from a 1994 full size Dodge pickup with a 5.2 - I see most guys are grabbing them out of mid-90's Dakotas and vans. I can't imagine that there a compatibility issue with the full size trucks but weirder things are true sometimes. Anybody out there have some knowledge on this subject? Thanks.
 
I was cruising through the header section looking at mini-starter info and just posted here without thinking. I guess it could be in electrical or drive train threads as well if it needs to be redirected.
 
The only magnum starters that won't work are the jeep magnum starters. They are on the wrong side of the engine and won't fit.
 
Thanks for the information.

There were lots of Jeeps and figured that out with the first one I looked under...Ahh- No starter where there is usually a starter!
 
I have a 93 318 mini on my 170 slant, you will love it :colors:
 
Learn me something here...are the "mini starters" for use on your LA just ANY 90's Magnum Dodge truck motor, or are they also special to each individual truck?
 
yup, these starters will fit everything, hemi, rb, r, la, magnum and even the ol slants.

got mine at the local crapa auto parts. cost me $57 and it has a life time warranty. so if the headers bake it i just slap in on the counter and get me a new one.
 
66plyValiant said:
far as I've heard its only the straight 6 engine that has them on the "wrong side":toothy10:
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Nope, V8's too. When i got my starter from a 98 dodge ram.(best 20 bucks i've spent) i checked every magnum powered vehicle on the lot. Including a mashed up v8 cherokee. Passenger side starter.
 
younggun2.0 said:
yup, these starters will fit everything, hemi, rb, r, la, magnum and even the ol slants.

got mine at the local crapa auto parts. cost me $57 and it has a life time warranty. so if the headers bake it i just slap in on the counter and get me a new one.
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So when someone is referring to a mini-starter, it's actually just a Magnum motor starter, or could it refer to something else?
 
tml1138 said:
So when someone is referring to a mini-starter, it's actually just a Magnum motor starter, or could it refer to something else?
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ya "MINI STARTER" is just slang for the smaller starters. there are many manufacturers out there. you can spend hundreds on them if you want but they are very easy to find and cheap. i just went in and told em i had a 95 dakota pick up with a 318 in it.
 
tml1138 said:
Learn me something here...are the "mini starters" for use on your LA just ANY 90's Magnum Dodge truck motor, or are they also special to each individual truck?
Click to expand...

There was a thread I read some time ago where they were discussing that after a certain year the nose was changed on them and they would have issues on older engines. I wish I could find it again but maybe somebody here is familiar with that alleged problem. Mid-90's are safe. Mine is from a '94 full size truck and my son's is off a '95 Dakota.
 
younggun2.0 said:
...got mine at the local crapa auto parts. cost me $57 and it has a life time warranty. so if the headers bake it i just slap in on the counter and get me a new one.
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Hey, Younggun!

I called my local Crapa Auto Parts and they quoted me $100+ for a Dakota/Magnum starter. Do you have that part number by any chance?

That would be awesome!!
 
I picked up a mini starter from a Dakota at the pick and pull. There was nothing left under the hood but this starter with the battery cable attached so it was just too easy to drag home with me. So when I went under my 67 to bolt it on my 273 I found a hardware issue... The bolt holes in the mini starter are threaded where the original starter has clear holes. after at least a year I still don't know if this is normal or if the strter I picked up was from some other vehicle and just thrown in where I found it.
Stock starter is still working fine so it doesn't matter much.
Good luck
 
I just called NAPA again to ask them about this and once again, they said that their cheapest option was something like $114 for a remanufactured unit...

:wack:

RedFish said:
I picked up a mini starter from a Dakota at the pick and pull. There was nothing left under the hood but this starter with the battery cable attached so it was just too easy to drag home with me. So when I went under my 67 to bolt it on my 273 I found a hardware issue... The bolt holes in the mini starter are threaded where the original starter has clear holes. after at least a year I still don't know if this is normal or if the strter I picked up was from some other vehicle and just thrown in where I found it.
Stock starter is still working fine so it doesn't matter much.
Good luck
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Interesting...based on the previous comments, it sounds like the Dakota style starter is a straight drop-in... so I bet yours was from a different vehicle!! Does it look the same?
 

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It looks like that and every other mini starter. If and when I do need a starter, this mini that I have is a core for exchange so its all good.
 
I ran into a problem trying to use one on my 69 Dart 360/727. The mini starter motor hit the CPPA headers and I had to use and old school starter for it to clear the headers.
 
mopardude318 had a thread with some pictures of different length mini starters. Might search his name and starter as key words.
 
MRGTX said:
I just called NAPA again to ask them about this and once again, they said that their cheapest option was something like $114 for a remanufactured unit...

:wack:



Interesting...based on the previous comments, it sounds like the Dakota style starter is a straight drop-in... so I bet yours was from a different vehicle!! Does it look the same?
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RAY 2446415

this one is $67. I bet the one you called is giving you the core charge with it. I would just go to the local pick and pull to get a core. hell i gave them an old starter, was one of the old school big ones.
 
Not to butt in but I looked at Rock Auto's site and a brand new starter is only $68.00 and a rebuilt "lifetime" is $57.00. Dan
 
crackedback said:
mopardude318 had a thread with some pictures of different length mini starters. Might search his name and starter as key words.
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a '97 dodge dakota with a 5.2 is what you want....there are 2 mini starters that are available, one is even smaller...(97 dakota)

IMG_2312.jpg


IMG_2310.jpg
 
Some years ago a mechanic tried putting one of those newer small starters on my 67 GTS. It won't fit.
 
They're pretty amazing. The engine cranks really fast. When I start it warm, I don't even really hear the starter. I turn the key and it fires immediately. I miss the ol' Mopar starter noise but it sure starts nice.
 
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