Which starter for an 87 3.2 with a G50?

[SurlySurdi]

Hi Chaps,

I looking to buy a new starter motor, I'm looking at this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395125654793?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=phGO5gCfSti&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=GQML7HhTQke&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

made by SSP, would love your opinions please (or alternative suggestions for the engine/gearbox combo)?

Thank you.

SS

[Ian Comerford]

Try Wosp, I believe they use good quality components such as Denso motors.

https://www.wosperformance.co.uk/starter-motors

[Phill]

Why not just get one from Matt, he does lightweight and recon.

[SurlySurdi]

Cheers Phill & Ian

I did take a look, the only one I saw for my engine/gearbox combo was this:

https://type911shop.co.uk/911-1972-89-Reconditioned-Starter-Motor-Lightweight

But, I want a new one.

Ian I did take a look at Wosp but I'm not sure which of the ones on their site is the correct one.

Any other suggestions?

SS

Edited November 17, 2024 by SurlySurdi

[Chris T]

Er, that is a new one.....

[Nige]

Description doesn't quite match the product title as it says it cover all years, but I would have expected there to be a difference between 915 and G50.  Unless this is universal fit, you would need to check with Matt.

You would need 87-89 for G50.

This is the one you would need:

https://www.powerlite-units.com/starters/rac508a.html  

 

Which seems to match the Ebay item.

[Chris_911]

Careful that you get one with the right number of teeth on the drive gear. I bought one as listed for my '88 G50 car but didn't fit due to wrong number of teeth.

[SurlySurdi]

9 hours ago, Chris T said:

Er, that is a new one.....

Sorry Chris  it's the word "reconditioned" in the Link that made me think it is not new.

SS

[SurlySurdi]

7 hours ago, Chris_911 said:

Careful that you get one with the right number of teeth on the drive gear. I bought one as listed for my '88 G50 car but didn't fit due to wrong number of teeth.

That's the problem with crossover years, the one on the car currently has 10 teeth which does match the Powerlite RAC508A.

SS

[Type911]

All Porsche 911 starter motors are the same from 1973-89.

I have no idea why the aftermarket think there are 2 types

[SurlySurdi]

Chaps I've ordered the Powerlite RAC508A. If it turns out the existing starter is ok I'll return it, cost delivered was £303.

SS

[SurlySurdi]

11 minutes ago, Type911 said:

All Porsche 911 starter motors are the same from 1973-89.

I have no idea why the aftermarket think there are 2 types

I think it's the way they are marketed vis-a-vis 915 vs. G50 Matt, i.e. 9 teeth vs 10 teeth for the G50.

Powerlite has RAC805 for the 915 and RAC805A for the G50.

SS

[Type911]

OK, let me rephrase my comment;

Porsche state (quite rightly) that all 911 starter motors are the same from 1973-89, they all have 9 teeth......................Why are people selling 10 teeth versions?

[SurlySurdi]

Could it be because at their core these are Denso starters and the 10 tooth gear is slightly offset to work with the 911?

Also, seems the 10 tooth versions are specifically marketed for the G50 gearboxes as far as I can tell Matt.

SS

[Type911]

I have no clue, just find it weird

[SurlySurdi]

Ok chaps,

Last year I went to see Matt at Type911 because my rotor arm and dizzy cap were knackered, as part of a 'let me just be sure' exercise today I decided to just double check all was well, the pic below is exactly what it looked like last year, only taken just now!

I know the parts were genuine, no complaints there, however, it looks like my car is chewing through these on an annual basis, what on earth do you make of this please gents?

I'm now thinking my starter is fine and this is the real culprit!!

SS

Edited November 20, 2024 by SurlySurdi

[SurlySurdi]

See this pic, the arm on the left is what i replaced last year

SS

[LukasM]

On 18/11/2024 at 17:03, Type911 said:

OK, let me rephrase my comment;

Porsche state (quite rightly) that all 911 starter motors are the same from 1973-89, they all have 9 teeth......................Why are people selling 10 teeth versions?

 

Just researching a lightweight replacement starter for a 87-89 Carrera with the short G50 gearbox.

 

I'm surprised to read this, doesn't the early short G50 box require a different starter than the 915 (10 tooth vs. 9/11)? The 90+ G50s require another one yet, as the flywheels sits in a very different location due to the different bellhousing/starter location.

[Type911]

Porsche state (quite rightly) that all 911 starter motors are the same from 1973-89, they all have 9 teeth....................

[Jonny Hart]

On 20/11/2024 at 10:03, SurlySurdi said:

See this pic, the arm on the left is what i replaced last year

SS

What ignition box is on your car?  Standard Bosch CDI or different?

[SurlySurdi]

It's Bosch Jonny. Since I took that pic I have found out why this kept happening, the duct I was using to channel air from the fan to the left side of the engine was incorrect, it was for an earlier car.

The result was that the metal duct pushed against the dizzy cap thus causing the excessive wear! 

The solution was to buy the correct duct which now provides good clearance around the cap and should hopefully prevent this happening again.

See the pics attached, you can clearly identify the correct duct as it has a much larger curve in it.

SS

[Jonny Hart]

Guess you missed these then!  Still available.

Edited June 18, 2025 by Jonny Hart

[Type911]

He has a 3.2, they caused the problems!