replacement starter

Randy N · Post by **Randy N** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:38 am

I have been looking for a 12volt starter for my M37. They seem to be difficult to find. I have found a 12 v direct replacement for th e24v but it was $400.
Any thoughts or ideas out there or is this what I am going to pay. Does anyone still remanufacture 12v or 6v starters?
Thanks

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:46 pm

If you have a really, really, really old junk yard in your area, you may be able to come up with one. Just look for a starter for any 1953 or later Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, or DeSoto flathead-equipped vehicle. Prior to 1953, they were all 6-volt positive ground. In 1953 (or was it 1954?) MoPar went to 12-volt negative ground electricals. The good old flathead 6 stayed in production in civvy cars and trucks until the slant-6 was introduced and in industrial/agricultural applications well into the '70s. The starters were interchangeable on all models and displacements. It will help if said really, really, really old junk yard has a really, really, really old guy working there who knows where to look along the back fence and in the tall weeds and blackberry bushes to find all the stuff that "fell off the computer" many moons ago.

tmbrwolf · Post by **tmbrwolf** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 3:19 pm

If you can find an automotive electrical shop they should be able to rewind the 24V to a 12V, might be less than $400.00!

refit1701 · Post by **refit1701** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 3:22 pm

Will a 12v from a 251 work? VPW has those for $125.

Lifer · Post by **Lifer** » Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:14 pm

I won't go out on a limb here and say "sure it'll work," but I will say that it should work just fine.

N1VSM · Post by **N1VSM** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:36 am

2 options: find a local shop to rewire your 24V starter or look for the civilian equivalent. (I can't help you with where to start on the model.)

When I got my M, it was (very poorly) converted to 12V and had a p.o.s. 12V starter made in France (one thing is that it surrendered well!), so the beast you seek does exist. Just be careful about using a 24V or 6V starter on 12 V. Both will work - the question is how long will it take you to burn it out. I guess if you could get them by the case at Wally Mart, it might not be an issue.

Randy N · Post by **Randy N** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:21 am

I am going to drag a spare 24V starter I have over to a rewind shop and see what they can do. I will also call VPW and check into the ones they have.
I found an Orpin series/parallel switch and may consider using it.
I will have to also scrounge some of th eolder auto wreckers and see if there is anything around..
Thanks for the ideas

wvcharlie · Post by **wvcharlie** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:04 pm

Mine was converted to 12v when I got it. It has a 6 volt starter out of who knows what in it. I thought this a bit odd but have since learned that it was common practice to swap in a 6 volt starter because a lot of the later 12 volt starters didn't work with the foot switch. they were key switch solenoid. I have done a lot of extended cranking with that thing and it still works great. As already stated, if you run across one of these just make sure it is negative ground.

Brett · Post by **Brett** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 5:30 pm

I was Qouted $150 to get the armature rewound by a local starter and alternator guy I've gone to for years. He said the field wouldn't need to be rewound. He said that a 12v armature with a field wound for 24V is a common configuration and is considered a "heavy duty" 12v starter. Same guy is gonna build me a 24V one wire alternator. I'm gonna keep 24v.

Brett

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