VH V8 Starter Motor Remove / Install

[DerekP]

G'day

It would appear that my starter motor has packed it in. I consulted my Max Ellery's (crap book) about remove / install and it says to just disconnect from battery and un-do the two bolts. But looking under there it looks to me like the P/steer rack and possibly the headers would be in the way and might need to me removed also to get it out. So before I embark on the remove / install - can anyone share their experiences and / or tips on VH V8 starter motors?

Also what would be the best replacement starter motor?

The car is a VH 308 SL/E auto - all stock except headers..

Cheers

[vkberlina]

Pretty straight forward job, the new starters are much smaller than the original ones.

Scott

[Darren_L]

I got mine out without removing the headers. I did drop the steering rack down though. No need to remove it, just pull out the two main bolts and slide it back out of the k-frame and let it hang. Should give you enough room.

I replaced it with one of the hi-torque Bosch starters, the same one they use for VS & VT 5L. Turn over a lot easier when the starter gets hot and yeah they are a fair bit smaller than the old ones.

Have to buy a couple of different bolts though, the old ones won't fit

[DerekP]

Thanks Scott / Darren. Are the new bolts difficult to aquire? Is there a specific type / size etc I can ask for from the parts shop?

[jcvhsle]

i pulled mine out on the weekend, no need to touch the exhaust manifolds. remove the the 2 bolts from the steering rack, pull the passenger side of the rack away from the kframe and remove the starter once undone, very easy no more than 5 minutes once the car is in the air. my tip remove the front wheels, it gives you more playing room if the car is only on stands at the front, cheers

[Darren_L]

Thanks Scott / Darren. Are the new bolts difficult to aquire? Is there a specific type / size etc I can ask for from the parts shop?

you can just buy the bolts to suit a VS/VT from Holden if they aren't obselete like everything else.....
They are the same thread etc, I think I may have even re-used one of the bolts, but had to replace at least one of the bolts
I just measured what length the bolt needed to be, and went to the bolt shop with one of the old bolts as a sample

[Manta_268]

From memory you can wriggle it out, nice and tight though so you would be better to drop the rack like they have said.

[jpetrou]

I think you will find the new style starter motors already come with the revised mounting bolts to fit.

[DerekP]

So I finally got round to replacing the starter today. Put the car on stands, moved the p/steer rack out the way, undid the old starter and removed it. Tried to get the new VN - VS starter in and low and belhod it doesn't go - the solenoid won't clear the headers, no matter how I tried to line it up evertime it just would't go. Looking at the old and new side by side it's easy to see that the solenoid on the old one is on the side and the new one is on the top and this is why it won't go in as far as I can see. I was assured when I bought it that it will go as it is smaller, but there is no way it will clear the headers which I was worried about to begin with. DAMN! Anyone got any ideas? I just have Genie III headers, nothing special..

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Genie's are the only brand that I'm aware of that use a different header for the type of starter (but this only applies to VN-VS EFI 5.0L). The earlier girls all have the starter on the side, the high torque starter used on the VS has it on the top. The high torque starter fits with standard engine pipes and just about every other brand of headers but Genie.

This doesn't help you now though. Can you take the snout off the starter and move it around 90 degrees?

[DerekP]

Not sure mate, looks like a sealed unit but I'll check it out in the morn - do you mean turn the solenoid around?

[vkberlina]

I think he means the gear cover, if you can turn it 90,180 etc deg it will change the alignment of your solenoid

scott

[DerekP]

No can't turn it, it's a moulded & sealed unit. I will have to see if the older style starters are still available, outside of that I'm not sure of what my options will be...

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

I can get aftermarket starters for around $250, but that's no good to you over there.

[DerekP]

This one was only $200 from American Autos here in Sydney, good for a boat anchor to me....

[DerekP]

Apparently I have to modify the headers to get the VN - VS starter to fit, would have been nice to know that before I went to all the hassle to buy teh bloody thing. Seems how my car is on stands in the garage and I have no way modifying the headers myself I have no option but to get my local auto elec to rebuild the old starter after all that. Shame, would have been nice to have the new high torque version in it - such is life..

[VBRED]

Mate Any chance of putting up a photo of both starters.

[DerekP]

If I get a chance tonight I'll post some pics fer ya.

[DerekP]

Here are a couple of picks - see if you can pick the original one!

[vkberlina]

Undo the 2 bolts at the back and they will prob go the wholeway through, rotate the assembly 180deg and refit the bolts, then try fitting to the car

Or is the solenoid separate and not attached to the starter motor?

If so I think your snookered I will have a look at the EFI5L starter on my motor in the shed tomorrow and see if it could be done to this one

cheers
Scott

[DerekP]

Rotating the motor won't change the position of the solenoid which is causing the problem. The solenoid seems to be fixed to the moulded alloy mounting bracket (where it bolts to the engine) - unless I'm just not getting it...

Cheers

Derek

[DerekP]

Undo the 2 bolts at the back and they will prob go the wholeway through, rotate the assembly 180deg and refit the bolts, then try fitting to the car

Or is the solenoid separate and not attached to the starter motor?

If so I think your snookered I will have a look at the EFI5L starter on my motor in the shed tomorrow and see if it could be done to this one

cheers
Scott

Thanks Scott, much appreciated.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

I did a starter on a VS not long ago that had the old starter fitted, put the hi torque one on and it fitted. I had also fitted Wildcat extractors to it as well, but as I said, only Genies have an issue with starter motors.

Rotating it won't help, looking at the pictures the solenoid is indeed attached to the mounting so it can't be turned.

[DerekP]

So what's the story with Genie's then?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

When the 5.0L came out in the VN, they made a set of extractors to suit it, then as each model came out the original extractors were still good until the VS started using the high torque starter, then instead of redoing the original jigs to fit them all, they just made a new LH header to suit the VS.