Starters and Alternators

S

scott nutter1

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It seems that there has been a lot of post about newer, auto parts store supplied starters and alternators going bad quickly or just plain junk.
Obviously, the best option would be to have a reputable rebuilder do the job, with quality parts.

So, if someone went this route, what would be the best strategy?
Option #1.. pull off your existing starter and alternator and take them to a rebuilder. But you would be out of commission till the job is complete.
And that could be a while, especially if you have to ship to a quality rebuilder.

Option #2.. buy two donors at a junkyard to have rebuilt. But there would be no lifetime warranty from the auto parts store. Just a warranty from the
rebuilders, and how long would that be? 6 months max?

Option #3(and probably the most expensive option).. Buy a lifetime warranty starter and alternator from a auto parts store, send the new ones to the
rebuilder, have them rebuild the new ones with quality parts, then install both. With this option one would have the lifetime warranty if needed. And
a couple of quality components.

The biggest factor would be finding a quality rebuilder. They seem to be going by the wayside because of the large chain auto parts stores with their
lifetime warranty's...
Any suggestions or better options??
Scott.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
 
I was on a trip once crossing Nebraska at North Platt. I pulled into a rest area and when trying to restart the starter would not run. I telephoned a couple of auto parts stores and found no one had one but a NAPA told me they had a shop and a rebuilder would be there at 9:00 am the next morning. I was not towing on that trip so I had the GMC towed to their parking lot. I removed the starter there and went to bed and brought the starter into their shop in the morning. It was rebuilt within an hour. The rebuilder told me that the last rebuilder (bought from Orielly) used the wrong brush springs so the poor contact caused arcing and overheating.
It worked fine after he rebuilt it.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

>
> It seems that there has been a lot of post about newer, auto parts store supplied starters and alternators going bad quickly or just plain junk.
> Obviously, the best option would be to have a reputable rebuilder do the job, with quality parts.
>
> So, if someone went this route, what would be the best strategy?
> Option #1.. pull off your existing starter and alternator and take them to a rebuilder. But you would be out of commission till the job is complete.
> And that could be a while, especially if you have to ship to a quality rebuilder.
>
> Option #2.. buy two donors at a junkyard to have rebuilt. But there would be no lifetime warranty from the auto parts store. Just a warranty from the
> rebuilders, and how long would that be? 6 months max?
>
> Option #3(and probably the most expensive option).. Buy a lifetime warranty starter and alternator from a auto parts store, send the new ones to the
> rebuilder, have them rebuild the new ones with quality parts, then install both. With this option one would have the lifetime warranty if needed. And
> a couple of quality components.
>
> The biggest factor would be finding a quality rebuilder. They seem to be going by the wayside because of the large chain auto parts stores with their
> lifetime warranty's...
> Any suggestions or better options??
> Scott.
> --
> Scott Nutter
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
> installed MSD Atomic EFI
> Houston, Texas
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Emery,
Thanks, and just another example of the new junk out there. And a perfect example of a $5 brain remanufacturing a $65 starter.
My starter and alternator work fine. But the more I hear, the more I want to spend to have a quality rebuilding shop to do it. It won't be cheep, but
there will be piece of mind.
Scott.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
 
I replaced the alternator with a lifetime warranty duralast. I will have the old one rebuilt and keep it as a spare. If the duralast fails I can pull
it put on my quality rebuilt spare and take it to Autozone to swap out for another spare. Not ideal by any means but I figure at this point I might as
well have a quality rebuilt spare ready when needed.
--
JD Lisenby- USAF Ret
1978 Royale-455
MacDash, Manny Tranny, FI-tech, 3.70 etc etc

Navarre, FL
 
I attend parts show since we are a parts jobber.
I have jumped on the rebuilders we use, there atitude is ; we have warranty
.
My comback is that the Labor is too great to give me that type of anewer.
They do not like that confrontation, but it needs to be done.
I am as straight forward as Donald Trump when it come to dealing with our
suppliers.
You ALL need to get into the suppliers face and give them the feeback that
will hopfully get to the people that will make the decisisions.

> Emery,
> Thanks, and just another example of the new junk out there. And a perfect
> example of a $5 brain remanufacturing a $65 starter.
> My starter and alternator work fine. But the more I hear, the more I want
> to spend to have a quality rebuilding shop to do it. It won't be cheep, but
> there will be piece of mind.
> Scott.
> --
> Scott Nutter
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final
> drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
> installed MSD Atomic EFI
> Houston, Texas
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
JD,
That was what I was thinking with option #3. But with the exception of having the new Duralast rebuilt right away(by a reputable shop) and install
right away. I would not carry a spare because the new lifetime warranty component(that was just rebuilt by a shop) could be swapped out on the road if
it ever failed. And the warranty would cover it. But the chances of a properly rebuilt component failing within 80,000 miles or so should be pretty
slim.
Of course all this is just speculation. But it is pretty sad the hoops one has to jump through just to get quality and reliability.
Ok, I'm off the soap box(for now!).
Scott.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
 
We try to use Delco brand as often as we can.
It is more to use, but less come back .

> JD,
> That was what I was thinking with option #3. But with the exception of
> having the new Duralast rebuilt right away(by a reputable shop) and install
> right away. I would not carry a spare because the new lifetime warranty
> component(that was just rebuilt by a shop) could be swapped out on the road
> if
> it ever failed. And the warranty would cover it. But the chances of a
> properly rebuilt component failing within 80,000 miles or so should be
> pretty
> slim.
> Of course all this is just speculation. But it is pretty sad the hoops
> one has to jump through just to get quality and reliability.
> Ok, I'm off the soap box(for now!).
> Scott.
> --
> Scott Nutter
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final
> drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
> installed MSD Atomic EFI
> Houston, Texas
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
Option #4: Attend the swap meet at a GMCMI (or other) rally and buy an alternator and starter. Contact John Sharpe and he'll direct
you to Fred's Automotive in Humble who does quality rebuilds at reasonable prices.

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808


-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of Scott Nutter
Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2018 10:29 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: [GMCnet] Starters and Alternators

It seems that there has been a lot of post about newer, auto parts store supplied starters and alternators going bad quickly or just
plain junk.
Obviously, the best option would be to have a reputable rebuilder do the job, with quality parts.

So, if someone went this route, what would be the best strategy?
Option #1.. pull off your existing starter and alternator and take them to a rebuilder. But you would be out of commission till the
job is complete.
And that could be a while, especially if you have to ship to a quality rebuilder.

Option #2.. buy two donors at a junkyard to have rebuilt. But there would be no lifetime warranty from the auto parts store. Just a
warranty from the
rebuilders, and how long would that be? 6 months max?

Option #3(and probably the most expensive option).. Buy a lifetime warranty starter and alternator from a auto parts store, send
the new ones to the
rebuilder, have them rebuild the new ones with quality parts, then install both. With this option one would have the lifetime
warranty if needed. And
a couple of quality components.

The biggest factor would be finding a quality rebuilder. They seem to be going by the wayside because of the large chain auto parts
stores with their
lifetime warranty's...
Any suggestions or better options??
Scott.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything
Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Jim K,
If people started to send you cores for starters and alternators, would you have a really good rebuilder in the area? I would think you would, that
east Bay Area is crawling with old school auto supply/rebuilder shops. At least for classic muscle cars. And that could be considered us!! But the
freight charges would kill us. These things are heavy.....
Scott.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
 
Scott,
The freight would kill al the advantage of a good rebuilt.
Two way freight is never good.

> Jim K,
> If people started to send you cores for starters and alternators, would
> you have a really good rebuilder in the area? I would think you would, that
> east Bay Area is crawling with old school auto supply/rebuilder shops. At
> least for classic muscle cars. And that could be considered us!! But the
> freight charges would kill us. These things are heavy.....
> Scott.
> --
> Scott Nutter
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final
> drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
> installed MSD Atomic EFI
> Houston, Texas
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
 
Rob,
Fred's would be a great option for me. But not so for many others. I have never seen any mom and pop rebuilds at the international rally's. Maybe
could be a good gig for the right person. Maybe someone with "Hamilton" experience!!! I'm sure we all would pitch in to buy that person a canopy!!
Scott.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
 
I would like to buy a spare starter fo my 455. Does anyone have one they could bring to Amana in September?

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

>
> Option #4: Attend the swap meet at a GMCMI (or other) rally and buy an alternator and starter. Contact John Sharpe and he'll direct
> you to Fred's Automotive in Humble who does quality rebuilds at reasonable prices.
>
> Regards,
> Rob M.
> The Pedantic Mechanic
> Sydney, Australia
> AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
> USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
> USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of Scott Nutter
> Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2018 10:29 AM
> To: gmclist
> Subject: [GMCnet] Starters and Alternators
>
> It seems that there has been a lot of post about newer, auto parts store supplied starters and alternators going bad quickly or just
> plain junk.
> Obviously, the best option would be to have a reputable rebuilder do the job, with quality parts.
>
> So, if someone went this route, what would be the best strategy?
> Option #1.. pull off your existing starter and alternator and take them to a rebuilder. But you would be out of commission till the
> job is complete.
> And that could be a while, especially if you have to ship to a quality rebuilder.
>
> Option #2.. buy two donors at a junkyard to have rebuilt. But there would be no lifetime warranty from the auto parts store. Just a
> warranty from the
> rebuilders, and how long would that be? 6 months max?
>
> Option #3(and probably the most expensive option).. Buy a lifetime warranty starter and alternator from a auto parts store, send
> the new ones to the
> rebuilder, have them rebuild the new ones with quality parts, then install both. With this option one would have the lifetime
> warranty if needed. And
> a couple of quality components.
>
> The biggest factor would be finding a quality rebuilder. They seem to be going by the wayside because of the large chain auto parts
> stores with their
> lifetime warranty's...
> Any suggestions or better options??
> Scott.
> --
> Scott Nutter
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything
> Lenzi. Alex Ferrera
> installed MSD Atomic EFI
> Houston, Texas
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
I guess I fail to understand all of this. I have four good rebuilders within 20 miles of me in three different towns. It would be 11 miles for me to
haul one to the post office to mail it somewhere.

Check locally, there should be a rebuilder somewhere near you. I have had Onan, Prestolite (airplane), Delco, and Ford starters done locally here
for years.

I have also used AutoZone with no problems.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
It might fit in a large Priority Mail Flat Rate box for around $15 in shipping.

> But the
> freight charges would kill us. These things are heavy.....
 
> I guess I fail to understand all of this. I have four good rebuilders within 20 miles of me in three different towns. It would be 11 miles for
> me to haul one to the post office to mail it somewhere.
>
> Check locally, there should be a rebuilder somewhere near you. I have had Onan, Prestolite (airplane), Delco, and Ford starters done locally
> here for years.
>
> I have also used AutoZone with no problems.

KenB,

You are lucky.
We had three in striking range, we now have one and he is only there part time. He has been advertising for help for two years.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
Matt - You'ld think we would have more in this area.

I've been giving thought to hanging a white board at car shows, asking for
suggestions of who to go to for X, Y, Z. Most of these folks "know
someone", and those 'someones' may be gems (or hacks).

FWIW - Ford employee car show is Friday morning, and open to the public.
I'll have the GMC there. 20100 Rotunda Dr, Dearborn

-Will

> > I guess I fail to understand all of this. I have four good rebuilders
> within 20 miles of me in three different towns. It would be 11 miles for
> > me to haul one to the post office to mail it somewhere.
> >
> > Check locally, there should be a rebuilder somewhere near you. I have
> had Onan, Prestolite (airplane), Delco, and Ford starters done locally
> > here for years.
> >
> > I have also used AutoZone with no problems.
>
> KenB,
>
> You are lucky.
> We had three in striking range, we now have one and he is only there part
> time. He has been advertising for help for two years.
>
> Matt
> --
> Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
> Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
> OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
> SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
> Matt - You'ld think we would have more in this area.
>
> I've been giving thought to hanging a white board at car shows, asking for
> suggestions of who to go to for X, Y, Z. Most of these folks "know
> someone", and those 'someones' may be gems (or hacks).
>
> FWIW - Ford employee car show is Friday morning, and open to the public.
> I'll have the GMC there. 20100 Rotunda Dr, Dearborn
>
> -Will

Will,

A capitol idea. When the Saturday lunches restart, we could use that to collect information like this. Admittedly, the sign could be positive or
negative, but it would be good information.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
Hmmm, I don't even have 3 towns within 20 miles. Local rebuilder might
be a problem.

RonC

> I guess I fail to understand all of this. I have four good
> rebuilders within 20 miles of me in three different towns. It would
> be 11 miles for me to
> haul one to the post office to mail it somewhere.
>
> Check locally, there should be a rebuilder somewhere near you. I
> have had Onan, Prestolite (airplane), Delco, and Ford starters done
> locally here
> for years.
>
> I have also used AutoZone with no problems.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
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