Recommendations for a good reliable starter?

[MPTech]

I had my 302 rebuilt and getting ready to re-install it soon. I have the starter that was on it when I bought it, but don't know the history or age (I've had it 10 years and +32k miles). And I can't bring myself to installing this old thing on my new engine (and my luck it would go out after 100 miles anyway. I'd rather do it now than later.)
It's now bored & stroked to 347 and dyno'd @ 500hp, but I don't want to install a high-end race-part starter. I'm wanting something reasonably priced and reliable. I looked at Amazon and sorted my search filter for '93 Ford Mustang, but I'm still seeing everything from 2.0 Dodge Avengers, to 3.0 Toyotas, etc. Not very helpful Amazon!
Next I looked at O'Reily, I'm seeing a selection of various prices $99 - $300 and brands: Ultima Select. Bestest, Motorcraft, Bosch, Mr. Gasket, and 4 different PowerMaster models. (never heard of Ultima Select and Bestest??)

Please recommend a good manufacture/model that you've had good experience with. I know this area is tight too, want to ensure there are no clearance issues too.

Thanks guys!

[Mike.Bray]

Maybe a little more than you want to spend but a very good starter. I like how it can be easily rotated to get the solenoid/wires in an easily accessible place.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pwm-9503

[MPTech]

Maybe a little more than you want to spend but a very good starter. I like how it can be easily rotated to get the solenoid/wires in an easily accessible place.

Thanks Mike, this is within my price range. What do you have it installed on (SBF?)? Any issues?

[Mike.Bray]

Thanks Mike, this is within my price range. What do you have it installed on (SBF?)? Any issues?

351W and so far it's just worked.

https://www.imagecoast.com/images/MichaelBray1/20220324163835mediumrotated.jpg

[Fman]

Gordon Levy recommended O'Reilly auto 351W starter around $85, lifetime warranty (I think its the Ultima series). I am running a Dart 427 with 500+ HP, 5200 miles on the car now, it cranks it with no issues. He said he beats the crap out of these starters and they rarely fail.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Well Mark, you know how I roll---K.I.S.S. and "don't try to use race car parts on a street car" so I'd just run down to NAPA and get their best for a 1994/1995 Mustang with a 5.0

Jeff

[MB750]

rockauto.com

No, not sponsored. They're just that good.

[Kbl7td]

Second rock auto, cmon, if you’re this far deep into cars rock auto has everything you could ever want.

[i.e.427]

If I had the money all of you seem to have................... I'd burn all of mine.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I'd run the same one that was on it. Starters are a piece of cake to replace.

Frank

[Dgc333]

FWIW, In my 50+ years of driving I have always replaced starters with a rebuild from the local parts store. The only starters I have ever had fail are the OEM starters, never had a rebuilt fail and many of the rebuilds accumulated two to three x the miles the failed OEM starter.

I second Rock Auto with one caveat; check there price plus the shipping compared to your local parts store. Rock Auto is still usually cheaper but sometimes they aren't.

[OSU Cowboy]

I've run a Summit ProtStarter PN SUM-820055 on my 347 for 20K miles without issue ... Looks to be about $225

[rich grsc]

Damn it Mark, how many times???? :p:rolleyes: DB Electrical
​But if it works, use what you got.

[MPTech]

K.I.S.S. and "don't try to use race car parts on a street car" Jeff

I agree Jeff, I hear your voice in my ear every time I look for an OEM style part. ;)
I did say "I don't want to install a high-end race-part starter"

[welske]

Resurrecting an old post here -
MPTech - what did you eventually end up going with?

I believe I've had a starter die on my car. I have a similar setup - 347 w/manual trans, 157 teeth on the flywheel. The starter is a tuff-stuff of some sort - I think it's PN is '6124', but there's no label on it.

It has a really pronounced nose on the end that fits to the flywheel - but I don't know enough about starters to tell you if that nose has to be on there or not. I'm wondering if you had a similar situation.

I'd love to source one locally and not have to wait on shipping - which is why I'm asking if you what you ended up with.

[Presdough]

I'm using a powermaster from summit on my 408. I had a new genuine ford starter but it didn't want to hot start and went through a battery every year. Three years on this battery and no starting issues. $175.00...

[welske]

Thanks Presdough.
For others that may end up getting caught up in what I was stuck on - in addition to the specks above, the engine was sourced by BluePrint. They gave me this part number to replace the unmarked starter: BluePrint Engines Starters BPP9503BK. I think that was what they put on the engine to start with.

What was throwing me off (besides my inexperience) was that some of the recommended starters didn't have the "nose" that the starter I pulled off had. But after looking at some specifics on the recommended starters (like the powermaster) it specifically says those models replace starters that have that nose cone thingy. I eventually went with the Ultima from Orielly's because I could get it w/o waiting. I'll give it a go and if it works ok I'll post it's PN. If it wears out quickly I'll try to the powermaster.

Also - it's hard to find specs on the various models. Compression? How many teeth on the flywheel or the gear in the starter? Power of the starter? etc... Hard to compare them - so it is nice to have all you forum contributors taking time to throw your 2 cents in.

[OB6]

The OEM-like unit I had failed out of the box, so I went with a Powermaster mostly because I was at Summit anyway for some other things. I'm sure a cheaper unit from the local parts store would have been just fine. That said, I did like the ability to clock the starter.

[JCB52]

Had starting issues with my high compression 347. Very labored and slow when cold, and negative when hot. This was with a new oem starter. Replaced it with a DB Electric high torque starter and problem solved. Very reasonable price compared to racing starter.
https://www.dbelectrical.com/products/starter-automatic-transmission-4-9-5-0l-ford-f100-f150-pickup-bronco-1982-1991-3-8-5-0l-mustang-1980-1991.html#applications-list

[Presdough]

I got the wrong one twice from DB. It would bolt up but wouldnt contact the flywheel. Powermaster gave instructions on how to measure and sold me the correct one first time. That's why I went with them, they were the only ones who did so.

[StangRacer]

I have always used the "parts store" mini starters with the built-in solenoid for the late model 302's and never had an issue... even with a 14:1 349.

One thing to consider when using the late model starter with built in solenoid... the positive wire from the battery is always "hot". If you are mounting the battery in the trunk that is a long run for a large wire that is always "hot". If things go "sideways" and that wire is compromised, it could ground out. On my race cars I used an old Ford solenoid mounted next to the battery to keep the always "hot" wire run to a minimum. The old solenoid essentially acted as a relay so that long run was only "hot" when cranking the engine.

[welske]

I wondered about that hot lead - I'll look into that. As I understand it, that means there are two solenoids on that particular connection right. I guess that doesn't cause some other problem?

[BUDFIVE]

Welske, others, fyi-
I’ve found LMR (Late Model Restoration) to be a great source for Mustang related parts including starters, clutch cables, clutches, brakes, etc at good prices. I used this starter on my 347-it works great.

https://lmr.com/item/LRS-11002B/92-95-Mustang-50L-Pmgr-Style-Replacement-Starter

212161

[StangRacer]

I wondered about that hot lead - I'll look into that. As I understand it, that means there are two solenoids on that particular connection right. I guess that doesn't cause some other problem?

Yes, there are two solenoids... the one on the starter and remote solenoid mounted near the battery. On the race cars I fabricated the battery boxes and always included a bracket on the battery box to mount the remote solenoid. This kept the "always hot" wire to only a few inches long.

[Bill Elliott]

Maybe a little more than you want to spend but a very good starter. I like how it can be easily rotated to get the solenoid/wires in an easily accessible place.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pwm-9503

I have the same brand on mine.

[welske]

You guys are great - thanks for the recommendations. I did end up putting one from Orielly's in. Not because I didn't want to take the suggestions - but because they had one on the shelf that I could immediately get up and running. But when/if that gives out, I'll have this chain to for better options.

I was thinking about doing a dumb mechanic story on here too, maybe it'd be a better stand alone thread. But I think I know why a nice, mostly new, starter went bad long before it should have.

Thanks again.