Starter for 400 SBC

[K10Scottsdale78]

I went to use my truck today since my daily driver was in an accident (I rear ended an SUV on the highway in holiday shopper traffic when studded tires lost traction from braking hard in the rain and slid for 3-4 seconds before impact).

It started fine at first, but engine shut off a couple minutes after starting (cold start 40 degrees with no choke). I went to start it again, and nothing happened when I turned the key.
We tried jumping it and tapping the starter with a rubber mallet, and still wouldn't turn over. My best guess is that the starter is shot. Where can I find a budget-minded replacement starter for a 400 small block? Can't spend a lot since all my money is going into fixing my daily driver, paying "following too close" ticket, insurance increase etc., (not to mention I wasnt expecting to have to replace my starter after my accident) and now need to make my truck my DD for a while since my car is in pieces in my garage.

[Zane M]

Any auto parts store will have a budget line of reman starters. Don't know how long they last, but they will get you by for a while.

If you are really strapped, go to the local pick and pull and roll the dice on a starter you pull.

[83GMCK2500]

Double-check cable ends at battery and starter and wherever your primary ground terminates. Find it hard to believe starter would die after working once, sounds like a random electrical gremlin from sitting. Does it click or do anything?

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Cheap part store starters can fall apart easy. I lost half mine on the hwy when driving and was strapped for cash at the time myself. Igot it replaced for free and it happened again. In the driveway (luckily). I went and got another and this time I lock rite all the screws and bolts holding it together.

If you do get another just check it over real good. Price shouldn't be to bad with a core

[Paul83]

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

Double-check cable ends at battery and starter and wherever your primary ground terminates. Find it hard to believe starter would die after working once, sounds like a random electrical gremlin from sitting. Does it click or do anything?

This is what I would do. Always check electrical first. Especially since it died. Clean all the ends and battery posts, hook battery up to charger. See what happens.

[K10Scottsdale78]

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

Double-check cable ends at battery and starter and wherever your primary ground terminates. Find it hard to believe starter would die after working once, sounds like a random electrical gremlin from sitting. Does it click or do anything?

We did try checking the connections to the battery, and my friend listened to the starter when i was trying to get it going, he did hear the starter click

[K10Scottsdale78]

Originally Posted by Paul83

This is what I would do. Always check electrical first. Especially since it died. Clean all the ends and battery posts, hook battery up to charger. See what happens.

Yeah my dad thinks it could be a bad connection from sitting and all the snowmelt we have been having. Hopefully thats all it is, would save me some money that I wasn't planning on having to spend after my accident on friday

[slugish]

iM ure you already know this but if you have headers , the heat from them will fry a stock or parts store starter pretty quick . hopefully you fixed already

[superwade57]

If its clicking try replacing just the solenoid?

[donut]

Have you thought to just take the old starter to Auto Zone or equivalent and have it tested? While it's down you can check all your electrical ends and make sure they're clean and solid.

My last starter failure was actually a broken connector on a wire to the solenoid.

[K10Scottsdale78]

I finally got around to replacing the solenoid today. Still wont crank.

The only way it starts is by hot wiring it by using the old screw driver to the solenoid trick. If I turn the key, nothing happens.

Could it be a bad wire somewhere or possibly? The wires to the solenoid looked ok, and there is a heat shield to protect them from the headers