Thread: Why the heck are there 4 different starters....

Discovered last night that there are 2 different "power" starters for the 3800. If I remember correct there is 1.4 kw and 1.6 kw. The 1.6kw is for the supercharged cars. Can anyone explain why GM did this? I would think the low compression L67 would need less power to spin it over? The blower spins by hand so I doubt its that.

Also discovered there is a "Long" and "Short" style. The long isn't necessarily the high power starter or low power starter. Is it just another part supplier for gm or what?

So there are basically 4 different starters rolling around.

The reason im asking is because me and a buddy were rooting through spare parts last night and discovered the differences. I have thrown starters around willy nilly on 3800s without any issues. Is there a actual meaningful difference between the 4 other then one being smaller and easier to swing up in there? One thing I can say is that they appear to be very well built. 180k and 15 years on mine with no issues. Just changed a buddies top swap bonnie starter after 16 years and 190k last night.

The little info I have come across is there's a gear reduced and non gear reduced. However if you look at say a Bonneville or older H body starter vs a GP starter, the size difference is crazy.

The H body starter is huge in comparison and yet, I've also tossed any of them on any car. So it's not like it causes any issues.

none of em are gear reduced, at least none that ive taken apart....the earliest starters have electromagnets, then they came out with the larger dia permanent mag motor (more tq/winding leverage), the later's years reduced motor dia twice with the modern high efficiency permanent magnet motors.