Hi new member here

[Reg D]

Good morning i bet i am in the wrong section if so point me in the right direction
Recently purchased a 1962 3.8 series 1 coupe , not driven it yet because of the weather and road conditions
I have spent time making it oil and water tight which i have now achieved,
It shares a garage with 2 early Range Rovers and is kept nice and warm,
I was wondering if i should upgrade the starter motor to some more modern, what do folks think ?

[mgcjag]

Welcome to the forum.....why if you have an early cars with original parts would you want to replace them with something different.....is your starter working?...drive the cat.. use it.....then work out what you think need fixing...Steve

[DWW]

If it ain’t broken don’t fix it….once you get into the upgrade cycle it will endlessly draw you in, ask me how I know… BTW some photos would be nice.

[Gfhug]

Welcome to the best place for all things E Type. Please add your name and car to the signature area (click on arrow next to your user name top right) it’ll mean people can answer in a much more polite way and know which model you have to correctly give relevant advice.

As has been said above, don’t change anything until you’ve driven the car. They need driving to properly show any issues. Only then can you consider any upgrades, many of which make the car worse than original. Appreciate the car was comprehensively tested by Norman Dewis to make it such a great car in 1961 and it still is great.

Get driving and smiling

Welcome again

Geoff

[cactusman]

My 62 3.8 fhc still has its original starter...works just fine!

[Jeremy]

mine ditto

[Heuer]

[bitsobrits]

Time for an alternative viewpoint.

4 of my current 5 British cars (and several previously owned) have upgraded gear reduction starters, all fitted almost immediately after purchase, a philosophy informed by the ever growing pile of failed and dodgy Lucas starters (20 some and counting) from machines I previously owned going back to my first Lotus in 1979. The 'modern' starters are smaller, about half the weight, and use less current to spin the engines notably faster. None have failed, the oldest one in the fleet dating to 1988.

Lucas starters have left me stranded or needing a tow many times in my driving life. The GR ones, never let me down. If you do go the GR route, buy from a respectable supplier who supply a quality unit, and avoid deals too good to be true.

[malcolm]

I can only say my starter has been spinning my engine over succesfully for nearly 55years. It doesn't really matter if it uses more juice - that's quickly replenished by my equally old alternator.

[lowact]

Are you saying it's hard to start?

[bitsobrits]

Yeah, usually it doesn't take 55 years of cranking to get a car started...

[chrisfell]

When my Lucas M45G starter failed (worn brushes, easily replaced), I replaced the whole starter with a high torque starter. The old Lucas unit is reconditioned, and in a box labelled "Originality", along with the OE dizzie, brake rotors and calipers.

The next owner can refit these if he / she wants. I'll stick with the much improved car.

[malcolm]

Are you saying it's hard to start?

[Reg D]

No it starts up fine i would call it preventive maintenance, already changed to alternator and Led lights
just faffing about with it really

[malcolm]

No it starts up fine i would call it preventive maintenance, already changed to alternator and Led lights
just faffing about with it really

I think they were referring to my post reg! I can take the digs.

[Reg D]

I will get the hang of it Maybe