Starter: Re-build or replace

[3 Speed]

The starter on my 67 is finally at the whirr-click stage, and I really do not feel like tapping it with a hammer when I need to go somewhere.

Discussions here seem to lean toward getting an old timer to rebuild the existing starter rather than taking a chance with a parts house rebuilt one.

Opinions?

[Kurt Combs]

If you can find someone to rebuild it, I would do it. Auto parts stores rebuilts are crap.

[1972hiboy]

re-building is great if you can find quality parts to put into your starter. If you cant find good quality parts then I would just buy one from the parts house with a lifetime warrantee.

[3 Speed]

FINALLY! Put in a NAPA re-built last weekend - lifetime guarantee. Not too bad, except for that stupid top bolt. Had to stop mid-project and go buy a ratcheting flat wrench, 1/2 inch. At least I can use that $16 tool on lots of other bolts on the truck.

Thanks for all the advice. The truck started right up, even after sitting for six month.

Getting brake work tomorrow.

[Jacksdad]

Yep - the top bolt is fun. I was lucky and had my starter die just before the one year warranty was up. Decided to quit being cheap and had them upgrade to the lifetime warranty unit when I replaced it.

[tsherry]

Good for you! I was one of the guys recommending a local rebuild, even though there is a NAPA regional distribution center in town. I like having a guy on the other side of the counter that actually did the work... Recently had to try to chase down a starter for an old Bobcat skidsteer, and ended up having it rebuilt by the local guy.

[3 Speed]

Tsherry, I wish I could have found a trustworthy starter man. I had one 30 years ago, but not many left around here.

I even had to go out of town to get to a NAPA store, but they were locally owned.

BTW, the starter I pulled was not the original, but a "BBB" - rebuilt. Probably 20 years old.