Starter Replacement
 

Recently while at a swap meet, I met and was talking to another Model A'er about converting my 1930 Model A to a 12 volt system. In our discussion, we talked about the starter - using the existing 6 volt or going to a 12 volt starter. He mentioned, and I have experienced, concerns and excessive "pounding" when the "modern" bendix barrel style drive to withstand the 12 volt application, is used to replace the "original" style starter drive, which generally have the 5/16" starter drive bolts..

He stated that a starter (not sure if a 6 volt or 12 volt) from an older V-8 vehicle up to about 1948 vintage, would fit in a Model A, and that said starter would have the larger size (3/8") starter drive bolts.

Is this information correct? If so, can someone clarify for me as to which type of starter, and from what type of vehicle?

Thanks.

Re: Starter Replacement
 

No, not true. Totally different mounting arrangement. It might be possible to switch some components around to come up with something. Maybe an armature swop, but, I doubt it.

Re: Starter Replacement
 

Hey A-man,
Hm, I've used a model a starter (not even rebuilt, just cleaned up) with a modern bendix drive for about 6/7 years now...with 12V on my B engine and have no negative results. NO slaming and with the quick turrning on the A starter on 12V, my engine starts in a couple revolutions. So, not true/accurate where my experience is concerned! The V8 starter will NOT work without extensive mod. A barner here, Just Plain Bill, is the guy to speak with for mods to the V8 starter, so that it can be used on the model a. Not something an amatuer can accomplish, IMO.

Re: Starter Replacement
 

This comes up every now and then. I converted to 12 volt back in the 80s and continue to use an original 6 volt starter and original Bendix. I have had no problems and am probably approching 75,000 miles of operation.

Re: Starter Replacement
 

Thanks Russ, hardtimes, & John for the information! Reading your posts, and posts of others, as a result of searches on this forum, I thnk I will stay with the 6 volt starter in my 12 volt conversion.