mini starters?

[1990LTD]

I've been seeing a few guys doing this mod but I was wondering about it - What do I have to look for if I'm shopping for a new mini starter for the Vic?


I figure if I'm upgrading the alternator, I might as well get a nicer starter in there while I'm at it.

[1990LTD]

Looking for reputable brands, models, etc

[Brandon]

Really don't need a mini starter on a stock engine. Advance makes other starters that would be good for your car and cost less.

[87gtVIC]

Really don't need a mini starter on a stock engine. Advance makes other starters that would be good for your car and cost less.

He does not mean a performance one. At least i think he doesnt. Mini starters came stock on CV's etc. in 1990 or so.

[1990LTD]

He does not mean a performance one. At least i think he doesnt. Mini starters came stock on CV's etc. in 1990 or so.

No I didn't mean for performance...I just want something that'll turn over better than my current one.

[1990LTD]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-302-SMALL-BLOCK-FORD-HIGH-TORQUE-MINI-STARTER-351W_W0QQitemZ360185183574QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item53dcb5bd56&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245

how's that one look?

[1990LTD]

when my car is cold it seems to be taking a bit longer to turn over than it did when i got it

[Brandon]

Oh. Sorry. My bad. But yeah that looks like a nice starter

[andymac0035]

when my car is cold it seems to be taking a bit longer to turn over than it did when i got it

Might just be that yours is getting tired. It's my understanding that (as 87gtVIC said) our cars already have a mini-starter.
Looking at the link you posted....other than color....that looks exactly like what's in my car.

My starter was starting to fail on me. I just used a stock replacement.....which means re-manufactured, since you can't by a new OEM one. I went with a visteon starter....as they use all new brushes ect...

Bottom line my car spun over much noticably faster with just a replacement starter.

[1987cp]

A good-condition replacement starter can work wonders. However, if you want to upgrade, the easiest thing might be to just go to your favorite local parts depot and ask for a stock replacement for a '90 or '90 Crown Vic (or probably Mustang through 1995). Lincolnmania and a couple others seem to have a fair amount of knowledge for swapping on a later-style starter.

[1990LTD]

So you figure whatever they give me at the parts counter would be an improvement?

[Brandon]

Yeah. Sounds like a draggy starter

[1990LTD]

It'll turn over like nothing when it's been driven already, but when I go out in the AM it's turnchugachugachugachugaVROOOM. Used to be more of a turnchugaVROOM

[85crownHPP]

mini starters cost a lot more too... they came on 91 vics,gmqs, and '90 towncars, and many other newer 5.0 fords.
A new replacement for yours might help it crank better, depends what the problem is.
I put one on my 85, it cranks fast and furiously.... there's a thread on it some where.

[andymac0035]

So you figure whatever they give me at the parts counter would be an improvement?

Not all remanufactured starters are created equal. Some places actually do replace all the wear-items to essentially make a "new" starter out of an old one......and some places just replace the parts of it that actually failed/wore out. I'd ask about it and not just assume.


On a different note.....
I thought the 90's got the mini-starter as well as the 91's?