what's the favorite replacment starter for these sixes?

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Cruisingram

Cruisingram

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I forgot how massive and heavy these old starters are! Have you guys been putting the smaller starters on them yet? Any issues? I took mine out last night- the bottom stud bolt had welded itself to the starter and came out with the starter. Wasn't as easy a pull as I hoped.
 
You know my take on mini starters. I have not found one that didn't fit yet. Love 'em even on a big block. You'll lose the old Chrysler Waaa-waaa-waaa for the new t-t-t-t-t-t-t cause its cranking about 3X faster and using half the amps at <1/2 the weight.
 
Pay no mind to the Summit sticker as it is the same as the basic 2000 Dakota mini.
Fit is great after removing the adapter for the wires that come with the starter.
Don't remember if this is the engine,this one was a 1967, (I did several Slants) but one had a boss in the block that needed some shaving.The starter was tight against it.It may have been the 1980 cast crank block.
Anyway they work like a dream.
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Just beware of cheap Chinese mini starters from the auto parts stores. I bought one from NAPA last year and it died after about 30 starts. Bought an original Denso one from a junk yard (90s Dodge Dakota w 120k) and it has been working flawlessly so far.
 
I depart from the crowd here. I like the big tried and true Chrysler original gear reduction starter.
 
I have no problem with the original starter. The big plus for me is all the extra room you get with the mini. It just makes working on exhaust and suspension so much easier.
 
I sold all my date coded big dawg mopar gravel grinders. They were good for their time, and still are on full restorations. I plan to drive my junk a lot if I can ever get it done. I want parts I can easily get replacements for. Sure theres plenty of gravel grinders still out there, but theres also newer, better, lighter, more powerful.
 
Replaced my original with a Dakota mini while on a road trip down the west coast. Gave the huge, antique one back to the kid at the parts store and he didn't even blink.:D
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I replaced the one in my truck with another just like it came with in 1985 because I have a few in my attic. And while I put a mini on my 318 fury, (again because it was in a convenient spot in the garage at the time, being as how I just had gutted a 92 Dakota that was headed for the junkyard.... But I miss the sound of the old ones. In fact the one that came off the fury might be what is on my truck now because I found out that my problem at the time with the fury was the big "+" cable from the battery to the starter was nasty green and not letting the starter work like it's supposed to
 
Duggie said:
Replaced my original with a Dakota mini while on a road trip down the west coast. Gave the huge, antique one back to the kid at the parts store and he didn't even blink.:D
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Just one more reason to love the slant 6. You can change the starter without getting under the car.
 
pishta said:
You know my take on mini starters. I have not found one that didn't fit yet. Love 'em even on a big block. You'll lose the old Chrysler Waaa-waaa-waaa for the new t-t-t-t-t-t-t cause its cranking about 3X faster and using half the amps at <1/2 the weight.
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You can downsize the battery too for even more weight(and cost) savings once you go mini. I went to the smallest car battery at Costco without a problem
 
As much as I agree with the use of a newer ''Denso'' starter, I still am old school and love the sound of the old style Chrysler gear reduction starters.
It's kinda what makes old Mopars unique and immediately identifiable amongst the sea of brand X cars in the parking lot.
 
65TerrorCuda said:
You can downsize the battery too for even more weight(and cost) savings once you go mini. I went to the smallest car battery at Costco without a problem
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In a given model/price point of battery they are often the same price regardless of group size. For my money I always get the biggest highest amp battery that I can make fit the tray. Especially if it's the same money! The extra capacity in a battery never hurts a thing.
 
1978 starter off half ton 360 engine.this changes the 3.5:1 ratio to 2:1 ratio and still gives you the wanderfull Chrysler sound with an added bonus of the engine cranks faster
 
Sounds like the "1.8 hp" starter, housing is about 3/4" longer too. Yup. Used lots of those over the years.
 
There's a guy up by my in laws that had a starter and alternator shop for many years a couple of towns over from where he lives and has been liquidating all his old inventory from his personal garage via CL. I have been there a few times, for different parts.
He sells fresh new/reman starters and alternators, "some" calipers and pads, halfshafts for about typical U pull it prices. I bought 2 alternators (same as each other) one for my wrangler and a spare just like it for my Dakota's $100/both. I've bought the mini starters from him for $35. No core needed. I haven't seen him post lately.
 
So can I ask this question again- you guys are using the dodge durango or dakota starters? What year and such do I ask for at the parts store?
 
Cruisingram said:
So can I ask this question again- you guys are using the dodge durango or dakota starters? What year and such do I ask for at the parts store?
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Durango, Dakota, 1500.

Also, another thing I do not like about the mini starters is, we have been finding that not all of them work on our older Mopars. I've seen it first had more than once and a couple other members have as well. Some of them do not throw the starter drive out far enough and either barely engage the ring gear, or not at all and the starter just spins. We had that happen on a friend's 68 D100 with a 318 and auto. The mini started would not engage at all. We went through FOUR and I finally gave him an old big style Chrysler started I had and it worked just fine. So be warned, you "could" run into the same issue.
 
Yeah there are 3 different configurations for wire/cable attachment among them, I find the 96 and older version usually works out the best when retrofitting to an older vehicle/engine.
 
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