High Torque Starter Motor?

[Tom]

Anyone here have any experience with the IMI high torque starter? My current starter is a Bosch rebuild, but probably 10-15 years old now and just doesn't seem to have the oomph it once did, even with a fully charged battery. Before the official Bosch rebuild, I tried 3 or 4 rebuilds from auto parts stores, etc., and they were all pretty much junk. The Bosch was by far the best, but it's already aging from what I can tell. So I'm mulling options and am tempted to try this one -- if for no other reason that it's actually new and not 'rebuilt' with a few new brushes can of spray paint...

starter.jpg (48.64 KiB) Viewed 734 times

[CEW]

Im interested in this also as my starter is sluggish as well.

[brooklyn944]

I've had one in my NA for ~4 years now. I had the same sort of issues with sluggishness and no oomph before I got the high torque model. Never had any issues after. It fires up super quick and as an added bonus makes a fun sound

[aboyandhisdog]

Tom, I put one in my '49 Willys jeep and it worked flawlessly through some very tough use. And it weighed about ⅓ of the original starter and was ½ the size. No regrets at all!

Does Bosch not make a new starter for the 944? I bought a new Bosch starter (made in China, if anybody cares) for my 997 and it is outstanding. Very strong with no issues. IMO we need not be afraid of parts made in China if they are from a reputable company. Good luck!

[thestock]

I have one in my 87 944 3.0L Turbo and it works great.

[fasterfaster]

I haven't installed one, but it's on my list if my OE bosch goes bad. From reading up on reddit, our meticulous friend NC944er, and renn, there are some minor fitment issues (how to clock the adapter, adapting terminals, and interference with heat shield), but it seems like universally positive reviews of its performance and reliability. I think there was a renn groupbuy back in 2012, so some folks have been running them over a decade and I couldn't find complaints.

Happy to have you guinea pig it first, though

[cda951]

I have installed the IMI starters in several customer 911s and 944s, and have had them in other various cars of mine, and have not had issues.

The fitment is always trial and error with clocking the starter and figuring out electrical terminal configuration, but the 944 is probably the the easiest starter installation of any car I can think of. One of the only quick and easy jobs on a 951 for sure .

[Wespa]

I've had the IMI starter on my NA for over a decade now, no complaints. Although it seems to start a bit more sluggishly nowadays than it used to, maybe time for a new one..?

[walfreyydo]

I have one installed on my S2. I would say it has a slightly different sound and a tad bit more torque (but not like a truck starter or anything like that).

I think the biggest drawback of this starter is that it hangs really low off the car. It needs to be clocked in such a way that the main body of the motor is the lowest thing on the car, and that worries me if a piece of debris were to hit it on the highway or something. Its a tad bit lower than my exhaust.

Other than that it works and was cheaper than the bosch.

[Tom]

I have one installed on my S2. I would say it has a slightly different sound and a tad bit more torque (but not like a truck starter or anything like that).

I think the biggest drawback of this starter is that it hangs really low off the car. It needs to be clocked in such a way that the main body of the motor is the lowest thing on the car, and that worries me if a piece of debris were to hit it on the highway or something. Its a tad bit lower than my exhaust.

Other than that it works and was cheaper than the bosch.

Hmmm.... how low are we talking. Have any pictures?