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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Engine/Drivetrain => Topic started by: Bitzer! on January 15, 2012, 04:00:04 pm

Title: Shimming starter
Post by: Bitzer! on January 15, 2012, 04:00:04 pm

Hi guys, I did warn you there'd be loads of questions now it's going back together!!

This ones more of a check!

When shimming a 454 starter, both sides are shimmed the same??

Does anyone have a max distance (appx) they have shimmed to? would 10mm considered excessive?

Cheers

Andy
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: heavychevy91 on January 15, 2012, 06:16:16 pm
Hey bitzer i found this in the tech section from a while back,

http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php/topic,20263.0.html

Hope that Helps!
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: VileZambonie on January 15, 2012, 06:20:54 pm
Those are about as much info as you should need. Are you saying you have a 10mm thick shim?
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: firefighter on January 15, 2012, 07:28:35 pm
would 10mm considered excessive?

10 mm is equal to about .393 or a little over 3/8".
Yes, that would be extremely excessive!!

I just installed a new flexplate on my 454 and had to shim the starter .090 and that was the most I've ever had to shim a starter in my life.

Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Bitzer! on January 16, 2012, 03:45:18 am

Cheers all

Vile I plucked 10mm out the sky as 2mm is easy to guess at! I haven't properly offered it up yet, its just hanging on the bolts!

I found the thread in the tech bit ages ago but couldn't find it again for some reason.
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Bitzer! on January 22, 2012, 03:46:53 pm

Ok Guys (+gals)

I'm all shimmed out!

I got the proper shims and spent all day trying and still no result.

Followed the info in the tech section and now I'm stuck. I even resorted to one shim inside and try, one shim outside and try, both together and try and increased each side trying each time.

Fully charged battery and it sounds like it's struggling to turn it over no matter what I try.
Removed starter and bench tested it, fires fine, it's new.

Rechecked the power/ground, all good. As it's a new built engine, I dropped the plugs out to lose compression and it turn over fine by hand.

Wondering if there's only one 454 starter, excluding the high torque type, that fits or is there different ring gear the starter runs on i.e. choice of two? Different number of teeth etc?

I've checked the ring gear, no cracks or visible distortion.

Slightly losing my mind on the simplest of things - help............

Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Captkaos on January 22, 2012, 06:38:18 pm
Can you turn the motor over easily with a wrench?  There is only one starter for the 454's.
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Bitzer! on January 23, 2012, 01:13:11 am
Yup without the plugs in it turns over with a socket on the front end.
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Irish_Alley on January 23, 2012, 04:18:33 am
couple question. while i get my big head into this. one what was your old starter doing. and two why you shimming i thought shims where to make the correct contact area for the teeth. just thinking outload for all this but it seams like a ground problem. this is why your starter works fine on a bench test but under a load its slow
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Bitzer! on January 23, 2012, 07:10:11 am
Hi Irish, the old starter ended up worn out. Solenoid kept stickin so I junked it and got a new one.
Re ground, I've run several incl back to the battery.
Bit puzzled at the mo tbh
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Captkaos on January 23, 2012, 10:44:32 am
If it is dragging, is you battery putting out enough amps?
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Bitzer! on January 23, 2012, 02:52:32 pm

That was really my last option, the cranking amps. Insufficient would not throw the bendix gear out quick/far enough to mesh with the ring gear?

Any idea of what I'm needing for cranking amps on the batt??
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: zieg85 on January 23, 2012, 03:45:22 pm
http://www.autobatteries.com/basics/selecting.asp  Is a good reference however in my 454 I run a 785 in it.
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: zieg85 on January 23, 2012, 03:54:49 pm
Year   1985
Make   Chevrolet
Model   C20
Engine   7.4 Liters 454 CID V8
Description -
BCI Data Book   Optional
BCI Group Size   78
ODYSSEY MODEL   78-PC1500
Pulse (5-second) Hot Cranking Amps (PHCA)   1500
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)   880
20Hr Nominal Capacity (Ah)   68
Reserve Capacity Minutes   135
Dimensions
L x W x H - Inches   10.85 x 6.99 x 7.12
Metric Dimensions
L x W x H - mm   275.6 x 177.5 x 180.8
Weight (lbs)   49.5
Weight (kg)   22.4

Is what mine calls for...
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Bitzer! on January 23, 2012, 04:39:03 pm

Cheers Zieg, I'm on it already!

Looks like I may have been a little under powered and it hasn't been chucking the bendix in far enough.

Could this explain why I could only see small shiny marks on the ring gear? Does it sound plausable?

I'm hoping that's the prob!

Cheers (and fingers crossed!)
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: zieg85 on January 23, 2012, 05:43:33 pm

Cheers Zieg, I'm on it already!

Looks like I may have been a little under powered and it hasn't been chucking the bendix in far enough.

Could this explain why I could only see small shiny marks on the ring gear? Does it sound plausable?

I'm hoping that's the prob!

Cheers (and fingers crossed!)

Underpowered still should be slow to cranking.  Sounds like the starter may still have issues if the bendix is not engaging the ring gear.   I have had several rebuilt ones have issues right out of the box. 
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Captkaos on January 23, 2012, 09:25:34 pm
If it is engaging but not turning or turning very slow, I would say cranking amps.
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Irish_Alley on January 24, 2012, 09:29:35 am
If it is engaging but not turning or turning very slow, I would say cranking amps.
this is what i thought the problem was from the first post
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Bitzer! on January 24, 2012, 10:41:25 am
Ok guys, this is what I'm looking at. It's an Exide 100Ah 850CCA - is there anything else I should check? Not worried about size etc as I'm relocating it anyway!!

That should do the job??

Off to search for that paper clip again, see if I can get it shimmed then the battery should be with me by the end of the week to see what happens.

If it's not the right battery please tell me asap before I order!!

cheers
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Captkaos on January 24, 2012, 01:47:55 pm
850CC is definitely enought battery.  You should be able to use a 650CC (CC= Cold Cranking)
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Irish_Alley on January 24, 2012, 03:03:29 pm
how do you have the engine grounded?
Title: Re: Shimming starter
Post by: Bitzer! on January 24, 2012, 03:38:45 pm
Irish > I've been cheating! I temp wired it straight to the battery with no other electrics connected. I didn't want to fire it up until I knew it was shimmed properly.

Chris> I'm going on the side of too much rather than not enough!!

Ok, up date for tonight:

Found the paperclip! Borrowed a better battery with increased CCA. I finally got to 4x shims on the outer pad and it's nearly there.
The better battery throws the bendix right into the ring gear and meshes nicely. I think the previous battery only threw the cog in a few mm instead of fully across.

The only problem I've encountered now is the outer bolt has pulled the thread  >:( so I'll hunt for a longer bolt to reach the fresh thread or gently re-tap it to accept a bigger bolt.

On a positive note, I discovered a tapped hole in the corner that means I should be able to fit a hi-torque starter at a later date should I need to!