CK5
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Need a starter

Honest truth. Very little. The online price, is what all small businesses fight on a daily basis. Since DB has a nationwide customer base, they can negotiate a price direct from the manufacturer. They probably buy them 5000 units at a time, or more. Then, since the ordering, etc. takes very little human interaction, they can sell them, at a very low price. My starters cost more, because I try to support a business, that supplies all of my rebuilding parts. My cost on the starter, is more than you can buy one from DB. But I pay more, because I want to support that business. I charge more, because I need to stay in business. I rebuild a huge amount of farm and industrial units, that aren't available online, so those customers Want me to stay in business. I sell quite a few of the 6449 starters, a year at $145, because my local area will support that price. I used to rebuild those units, until the chinese units took over the market. Now the internet is taking over the chinese market. I've been in business since 1994, and it gets harder every day. The internet is a great way to get a huge variety of parts, but always try to support a local business if possible. The walk in price for a NAPA 6449 new starter is over $200 in my area, so I can sell them all day long at $145. Honest truth, there is very little difference in the starter. There is only a difference in the service. Diagnosis if something goes wrong, and a friendly face to help you get on your way!
I don't envy @500$k5 having to compete with the Internet. It's a tough place to be in when you have a brick & mortar store. I keep waiting for a customer to bring their own fluorescent lamp ballast, neon transformer, or LED power supply that they bought online for us to use to fix their sign. I think we're relatively safe because the sign stuff isn't very common. For example, many signs use T12 fluorescent lamps and the local Home Depot/Lowes will send people to us if someone comes in looking for them.
 
I had an opportunity to buy one of the parts stores I worked at in the past,but I figured it wouldn't be a good investment,with the internet & Ebay,etc,taking a huge bite out of business even back in the later 1990's...I was right..would have been lucky not to have gone bankrupt.

Many older jobber parts stores around here went out of business in the past 5-10 years,only NAPA still exists--other than that its Autozone,Advance Auto,O'Riley's,Pep Boys,and a few places that specialize only in foreign auto parts...
Many of the warehouses we dealt with locally have also gone under..

A salvage yard is a gold mine IMO though--other than the EPA hassles you'd have to deal with..
 
The best bang for the money, is to use the 6449 gm starter. They fit all of the Vortec 4.3, 5.7, and 454 engines '97 to 2000. They are a perm. magnet planetary gear reduction unit. Have to get slightly shorter starter bolts, but other than that, they are a direct bolt on. They have a 3 bolt solenoid, that can be rotated, so it's easier to get to your wires. I sell them brand new, for $145.View attachment 299418 View attachment 299419

What are your thoughts on the nippondenso that is used on the 8.1(17880 on db electrical) vs this 6449 starter?

I have used two of the 17880 (from napa). the first one on a tbi 454 and have been happy with it and good cranking speed. The second one is on a tbi 350, and cranking speed seems slow?
 
The best bang for the money, is to use the 6449 gm starter. They fit all of the Vortec 4.3, 5.7, and 454 engines '97 to 2000. They are a perm. magnet planetary gear reduction unit. Have to get slightly shorter starter bolts, but other than that, they are a direct bolt on. They have a 3 bolt solenoid, that can be rotated, so it's easier to get to your wires. I sell them brand new, for $145.View attachment 299418 View attachment 299419

Is this the same as a denso 281-8002 starter?
 
Any one know if the 6449 starter I purchased from Amazon which has 11 teeth vs the OEM that has 9, work with my 168 tooth flex plate?
 
Could you tell me why the difference in starter teeth between the 6449 and OEM?
It had to be due to changes made by GM since the 6449 is a replacement for OEM GM units. It is just based in what GM put out in the mid nineties.
 
I'd assume the gear is offset different compared to the older ones ,so it needed to be larger and have more teeth ?...the gear reduction probably has more torque so it can use a bigger gear too..
 
@500$k5 do you do alternators too?
I am fortunate to be able to get to his shop and run his products.
He has built CS130 alternators for my old trucks with V belts and of course my serpentine bracket ones too. They have "Iceberg" cases which helps the cooling and they work well at low engine RPMS.
 
Yes I do. I can build just about anything, that you need.
Cool. I figured since you do starters you’d also do alts but figured it was worth asking. I’m working on cleaning up some wiring so I’ll talk to you when I’m ready to order a starter and I’ll probabky throw an alt at is also.
 
Cool. I figured since you do starters you’d also do alts but figured it was worth asking. I’m working on cleaning up some wiring so I’ll talk to you when I’m ready to order a starter and I’ll probabky throw an alt at is also.
Alta boy. I got no moneies to spend. So I like watching other people spend moneies.
 
Honest truth. Very little. The online price, is what all small businesses fight on a daily basis. Since DB has a nationwide customer base, they can negotiate a price direct from the manufacturer. They probably buy them 5000 units at a time, or more. Then, since the ordering, etc. takes very little human interaction, they can sell them, at a very low price. My starters cost more, because I try to support a business, that supplies all of my rebuilding parts. My cost on the starter, is more than you can buy one from DB. But I pay more, because I want to support that business. I charge more, because I need to stay in business. I rebuild a huge amount of farm and industrial units, that aren't available online, so those customers Want me to stay in business. I sell quite a few of the 6449 starters, a year at $145, because my local area will support that price. I also additionally make money on the site playing poker and blackjack. I used to rebuild those units, until the chinese units took over the market. Now the internet is taking over the chinese market. I've been in business since 1994, and it gets harder every day. The internet is a great way to get a huge variety of parts, but always try to support a local business if possible. The walk in price for a NAPA 6449 new starter is over $200 in my area, so I can sell them all day long at $145. Honest truth, there is very little difference in the starter. There is only a difference in the service. Diagnosis if something goes wrong, and a friendly face to help you get on your way!
Your commitment to supporting your suppliers and providing excellent customer service is commendable, and it's clear that your community values the expertise and reliability you offer.
 
Old thread, I say just use the stock starter and rebuild it yourself that way you know it was done correctly.
 
Denso 281-8002 is a Nippon Denso Toyota type starter, with a nose cone to fit a Chevy. The ND starter is one of the most "bullet proof" starter on the market. I run one on my drag/street car. Great starter.
This is what I run on my 8.1L. Buy it once and run it forever. Way stronger than the stock "Vortec" starters.
 
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