1963 Starter Upgrade

[midwestbird]

The starter on my 1963 Thunderbird went out last weekend, and I see the factory starter is a common problem. I came across the updated Bendix from Total Performance that allows you to use a newer Ford starter that is more common, but after speaking with John at Total Performance, he recently lost his supplier and is unable to provide the Bendix adapter. Does anyone have an updated/more reliable starter option than the 20-pound starter the car comes with? Possibly a high torque starter, as I see they are smaller and lighter. Thank you

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[Mrjagrock]

I am anticipating the same problem on my 1961 and the solution seems to be outlined in the following article in Hot Rod Magazine. The Drive I found on Ebay.

Easy Fix to Avoid 1958-1964 Big-Block Ford Starter Failure

Tech story on modifying starter motors on early big-block Ford V-8s.

www.hotrod.com

 

[kbuhagiar]

A couple of vendors are now providing modified late-model-design starters that have the correct tooth pattern and work very well.
I replaced the one in my 62 Bird with one from RobbMc Performance Products

Ford Y-Block/Early FE Gen II Mini-Starter Item# 3026

RobbMcPerformance - Ford Y-Block Starter

Good luck!

 

[74 Harley]

You can put a later flex plate (172 tooth I believe) and just run with the later starter. Then you don't have to chase odd aftermarket parts that go out of style.

 

[kbuhagiar]

You can put a later flex plate (172 tooth I believe) and just run with the later starter. Then you don't have to chase odd aftermarket parts that go out of style.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

I don't know about you, but I have zero desire to drop my transmission (and my aftermarket exhaust system) in order to replace the flywheel when a modern replacement starter is readily available.

But that's just me.😁

 

[midwestbird]

I am anticipating the same problem on my 1961 and the solution seems to be outlined in the following article in Hot Rod Magazine. The Drive I found on Ebay.

Easy Fix to Avoid 1958-1964 Big-Block Ford Starter Failure

Tech story on modifying starter motors on early big-block Ford V-8s.

www.hotrod.com

That is what is mentioned in my post. Total Performance no longer supplies that part.

 

[Mrjagrock]

If you put in the part number, without the TP. you can find a number of places that sells them on the Internet!