I've spent some time and money getting a nice 903 engine from an 850 spinning the right way for my 600D. (127 cam, 127 oil drive shaft, 127 waterpump + adapter, intake adapter, different pushrods, seals, etc...)
Now I find that the motor doesn't want to spin fast enough with the old 600 starter. I saw some references to a Subaru starter with Paul's adapter plate. Maybe I'll buy a machined adapter from Paul but what model is the starter from?
Feel free to email me direct if you know. thadkirk at hotmail.com

Thad Kirk
http://www.mirafiori.com/~thad/

Hi Thad, if I recall correctly, that info. is somewhere in Paul's forum on his website.  I'd have to scroll through it all to find it, but I am sure you will find some interesting info. there yourself anyway!  Let us know if you find it.  Did you decide to use that oddball distributor from me?  Nice to hear that you have your motor going.

I have used stock 600 starters on reversed 850 motors in the past (on two cars - one with high CR) and not had problems.  Doesn't the problem crop up when you increase the compression ratio and change the cam?  Have you checked the various electrical things that could be contributing?

Gil

I recently replaced my Fiat 600D starter with Paul's Subaru-and-adapter-plate because the solenoid was beginning to fail (you had to tap the solenoid to make it engage sometimes) and he said the Marelli solenoid/starters will refuse to engage sometimes when they get hot.  Paul's is a very nice unit.
However, I have never heard that the Fiat starter is not strong enough.
You should check your grounds and wires. Maybe run jumper cables directly from the battery to the solenoid to see if it works when it gets full voltage.

Jim

My cables are good. However, I'm not so sure my starter is very good. I see the cost of a new 600 starter and I figure there must be something better and sure enough Paul has figured this one out.

Hi,
did you try to disassemble the starter / solenoid? I made the experience that in most cases the solenoid mechanism is dirty and without (enough) grease. In all cases I was able to repair this defect.

Regards,

Florian

Paul here.

You would need a 1980 Subaru starter from a GL or Wagon with 1800 motor, manual transmission.  There were two types made. One with a "nose bushing" and one without.  You want the one WITHOUT a nose housing a bushing.  These fit right on to my adapter plate.  As the starter is a "reduction drive" starter, it is capable of starting 14:1 engines with even the wildest camshaft, particularly when they are HOT.

The adapter is shown on the SPECIALS page.  If you need the adapter and starter I can provide them both from stock.  I have also released a new reduction drive starter for the Fiat 850 based cars.  Same problem with HOT starting.  In this case had to make a hole new nose housing for the starter and it is sold as complete unit ready to bolt on.

Check out the Part Price List at the top of my parts page at Scuderiatopolino.com.  It is a PDF File and you can print out your own copy.  It was updated just a few days ago.  New part numbers, but the prices are still the same.

Hope this helps.

Paul

Florian,

Here is a photo of the starter in place with the adapter, and then the adapter by itself.

Hope this helps visualize it all.




Paul Vanderheijden

Paul,

  Very nice photo, explains a lot! =) Does this application still allow the use of the original 600 starter motor dust shield (small sheetmetal piece between starter & bellhousing) and the starter motor/bellhousing cover (large insulated sheetmetal piece covering the starter access hole in the floor/firewall)?

-JS.

Yes,  but it may require a small "bump" where the top of the starter bay hit the shield.

Regards,

Paul

I put one of Paul's FIAT 850 starters on my 1000 OTR with 11.5 compression and it now starts first turn of the key.  Highly recommended.

Cheers

Graeme