Toyota Starter on the L-head

I'm not much of a thread builder so here's the short and skinny.

I got sick of messing with the CJ-3a starter. The stars had to be perfectly aligned for it to engage and turn at the same time. It was noisy. By the time I had it working decent it was in need of a rebuild again.

I read about the toyota starter on the F-heads and figured it ought to work on the L-head too.

Ingredients:

F-head Bellhousing and plate (Thanks Donnie!)
129 tooth ring gear that goes with the F-head bellhousing
1982 Toyota Landcruiser Starter (don't make this more complicated than it is, who cares about what part number it is)~$100
Starter button (I chose the 60 amp version, looks a little more weather resistant)~10

I chose to go with AutoZone for the starter as there seems to be one on every corner of small wheeling towns we adventure to. I'll be digging up the pics and even have a video for proof of @#$%ing awesome it works.

 

I've heard about the early starters and glad I don't have one. Post up pics when you get it finished. The boys over at the 3A page are gonna love that!

 

Is done. I just have to find the few pics I took.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fekoqSetACA

Remind me to turn the radio off next time and forgive me for the choice of music. God is the only that can make radio that works out here.

 

New starter vs old



Clutch and flywheel reinstalled with new ring gear. I had replaced the flywheel and clutch when I rebuilt the trans only a few trips ago.

I'm still looking for the bellhousing pics. Here's one of the Fhead bell installed.

 

Two headaches but other than that its parts replacing 101.

The starter flange and the l-head block have a little bit of interefence that does not let the starter line up. I did a bit of cussing thinking that it wasnt going to work before I realized that a blip of the brinder on the starter flange solved all problems.

The bolt bosses on the f-head bellhousing are about ~2" where the l-head is ~1/2" This makes it extremely difficult to install and tighten the top two engine to bell bolts. I'm not shy and reached for the sawzaw. It can be done less distructively. Just use your head. I have a firey temper and when I am alone with powertools bad things can happen.

 

Dan find yourself some fhead parts and get to work. I think I could drive this thing around the block just holding the starter button in.

 

Good info here, thanks for sharing.