starter question

[spanky55amg]

So I go to get in the truck and drive it for the first time to work today, and the starter went. The truck runs rich at idle (im working on this) and it died twice. On third time, it engages the starter and stops like voltage is low. I check the gauge with key on and I have 12+ volts. Hit it again and does the same thing. Third time trying to re-restart, I held the key to start and when it tried to re-engage the starter, I got some smoke by the brake booster and shut that crap off immediately.

1. what starter have you all had good luck with and what should I stay far away from?

2. any idea what would smoke by the brake booster? (it was definitely wiring.)

 

[MrMarty51]

Look for burnt wires in the area of the booster, might not be burned black but there could be signs of melted insulation.
What exactly is the starter doing ? engages and cranks over real slow ? If so, time for a new/reman. starter.
I have been using NAPA lifetime starters, so far, I have had to replace two new ones.

 

[spanky55amg]

It engages, its slow, and then stops. Kinda of like if you only had 9 volts. You dont even get a full crank because the voltage isnt enough to keep the start engaged. I tried one more time after the smoke and as of now, everything still works, so maybe the smoke was very very short... fingers crossed.

How do you all feel about gear reduction on a stock engine?

https://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/tff-6584b/overview/make/chevrolet

 

[spanky55amg]

I just remember being a poor high school and tech school student, and we always put on AZ remans and it just seems like anything back in the 90's very early 2000's, anything AZ reman to branded was going to fail with in the warranty period. I just dont want to be under the truck again for a starter again in 6-8 months or leave me stranded.

 

[gpmorgan]

I bought a powermax gear reduction from summit about 14 yrs ago. It was on a 10:1 compression sbc for 13.5 yrs. For the last 6 months it been on a 10:1 bbc and still starts like new. It will work on any sbc or bbc as long as it is below 11:1 compression.