Section : Electrical Equipment

Alternators, dynamos, lights, wipers, etc.

Electric fan and a new starter motor

Posted By : Peter Kristoffersson, 04-Dec-2003, 01:11pm

HI

I am thinking of getting an electric fan and a new starter motor, a high torque one (due to that evil catalogue that came with post yesterday). After looking at the prices in the catalogue I decided that maybe it would be a better idea to check with the local scrap yard rather than pay Â£250.
Guess what, they have these parts. So my questions are:
Does any one know which cars have starter engines that could be easily fitted into a GT6 mk3?

I am also interested to find out how the electric fan is supposed to be fitted and where exactly. I am thinking of chucking the existing mechanic fan at some point next year.

Thanks guys
peter

Followups :

Electric fan and a new starter motor

Posted By : John Davies, 04-Dec-2003, 01:38pm

Peter,
I'm told that an Isuzu Trooper starter is a bolt upgrade. Seems popularin the US - visit the TTN or www.triumphspitfire.com and root about a bit for advice.
Fans? I'm fitting a double fan from a Skoda! It's the mounting that takes the work - lots of fans will fit.
John
- Electric fan and a new starter motor
  
  Posted By : Nigel Clark, 04-Dec-2003, 10:39pm
  
  Hi Peter,
  
  I have tried two different electric fans on my Mk3 GT6, and both caused - YES CAUSED -overheating. The car was unusable with the mechanical fan removed, with temperature guage going nearly off-scale on mild (not hot) days. With electric fan and mechanical fan together it was worse than the mechanical fan alone. Although the engine never quite boiled, it runs very rough at such high temps.
  
  Take a look at this link http://www.canleyclassics.com/infodatabase.asp?top... and you can see what the experts think.
  
  My car is now fitted with the standard mechanical fan, and a home made cowl from sheet aluminium which fits around the fan and back of the radiator, so that all the suction from the fan pulls air through the rad core. With this arrangement the temp. guage never went above half way on the hottest days last summer.
  
  Regards, Nigel
  - Electric fan and a new starter motor
    
    Posted By : Peter Kristoffersson, 05-Dec-2003, 12:36pm
    
    Thanks, that is interesting to know
    
    I have now heard both that it is good and bad. I guess the only thing to do is to do some experiments myself.
    
    Peter
    - Electric fan and a new starter motor
      
      Posted By : Helen Smith, 05-Dec-2003, 05:43pm
      
      Peter,
      James Paddocks were selling apparently super starter motors which were being bought by mainly Stag owners. I have limited knowledge, but i understand them to be the same as mentioned in this message thread. Don't quote me, but I seem to remember their price was around Â£70 plus vat. Might be worth giving them a ring ! I on the other hand, took starter motor off, had new bushes and brushes fitted and it starts brilliantly now... and only cost Â£25. !! Helen
      - Electric fan and a new starter motor
        
        Posted By : Peter Kristoffersson, 05-Dec-2003, 10:10pm
        
        Well mine seems to be sucking the life out of the battery
        So I definitely have to deal with it soon
        
        thanks Helen
        
        Electric fan and a new starter motor
        
        Posted By : Helen Smith, 06-Dec-2003, 10:16am
        
        Paddocks definately said that the starter motor uses very little power from the battery etc, hence why they are being bought by alot of stag owners to take on the might of all the cylinders! I couldn't find them on their web site, but they definately had them in when i visited them. http://www.jamespaddock.co.uk/
        
        Electric fan and a new starter motor
        
        Posted By : Nathan Gabbott, 16-Dec-2003, 01:10pm
        
        I've got a PI'd GT6 and the starter just couldn't cope so I did the Isuzi swap last night. I wouldn't exactly call it bolt on, but it wasn't too hard either. The US guy could probably bolt straight on but I wouldn't be happy as the pinion wouldn't align with the flywheel properly, so you would only use half of each - not good for long term durability! For RHD I had to grind a bit off the housing to clear the steering rack, I need o take a bit more off tonight as its tapping the steering column still over the bumps, but there's plently of 'meat' left.
        
        A list of the mods I made:
        Machine 4mm from flat side of starter spacer(to maker pinion line up)
        Grind housing around column
        Swap solenoid-starter cable connection to battery connection on solenoid(jumps straight through then)
        Lengthen Solenoid activation connection
        
        Excluding machine work it took 1 hour
        I did machining at work in 1 hour
        
        Engine now turns overr very easily and fires very quickly, unlike old starter!
        
        Electric fan and a new starter motor
        
        Posted By : Jason Chinn, 26-Jan-2004, 07:00pm
        
        Here's an intermediate idea - an adapter kit to fit a high torque starter.
        
        http://www.canleyclassics.com/newproducts.asp?uid=...
        
        Probably the cheapest alternative around - what's a Jap starter from a scrap yard cost these days?
Electric fan and a new starter motor

Posted By : Jason Chinn, 04-Dec-2003, 04:17pm

Hi Torque starters are only Â£140 from Canley Classics http://www.canleyclassics.com/newproducts.asp?uid=...

Don't pay more and as I've seen Dave Pearson assembling them I would think he's suppling other traders too.
- Electric fan and a new starter motor
  
  Posted By : John Davies, 04-Dec-2003, 10:49pm
  
  ONLY Â£140!
  
  First item from a Google search for 'Trooper starter' is offering used Isuzu Trooper starters for Â£50-75.
  Caveat emptor, but caveat walletum as well.
  John
  - Electric fan and a new starter motor
    
    Posted By : Jason Chinn, 05-Dec-2003, 08:11am
    
    As I understand it you can't just whack a Trooper starter on without some machining / adapting / fabrication of parts.
    unless anyone knows for sure otherwise - the starters I have seen are all reconditioned Jap mechanicals but new mounting plates - if it was just a bolt on then why the new mountings? The only way to know for sure is to gamble the Â£50-75 for a Trooper starter and have a go - anyone?
    Personally I'd prefer the tried and tested turn-key approach as I don't have access to a machine shop to make the mounting plate although as you say, Â£50 for a starter is better than Â£140 - then again, Moss sell the same thing at about Â£250!
    - Electric fan and a new starter motor
      
      Posted By : Peter Kristoffersson, 05-Dec-2003, 12:32pm
      
      thanks guys
      
      Someone emailed me regarding this yesterday
      
      Fwd:
      
      Hi,
      
      Just browsing the club messageboard (not a member).
      
      I see your question on starters and can clarify you can pickup an Isuzu
      Trooper 2.6I Petrol Starter and it fit this straight on.
      
      You need to wire it straight from battery, ie throw the solenoid away, run
      the old ignition wire from the solenoid straight to the starter.
      
      Took about 20mins to fit mine, I got it on Ebay for Â£10! (like new after a
      strip down and degrease)same as Canleys @ Â£165.
      
      Some saving, works beautifully ands sounds funky!
      
      Regards,
      
      David
      
      > Hi
      >
      > Thanks man
      > Why do you have to rewire it though?
      >
      > cheers,
      > peter
      >
      > D4vid wrote:
      
      Cause it doesnt need a solenoid, it has one on the starter, hense it needs
      power all the time, I tried using the solenoid but it doesnt work- but you
      could split the ignition wire into two, and run the new bit down to the
      starter and leave the old on the solenoid, that would probably work.
      
      Mines a racer, hense I wanted to drop the solenoid to neaten the
      wiring/reduce weight.
      
      I just made up some new cable from the battery and got some battery spade
      connectors from halfords.
      
      David