3.5 Rover starter

[rficalora]

Anyone have a picture of a starter for a 3.5L Rover?  The (Lucas) one I helped someone remove has a two eared flange
(e.g., 2 bolt holes to bolt it on).  But, when I look on line for 3.5L Rover starters, the flanges all appear to have three ears/bolt holes.

[tr8todd]

TR8 has 2 bolts.  TR7 has 3.  Probably what you are looking at.  Pick up one of those aftermarket high torque starters for a later 4.0 Rover.  E bay usually has them for under $150.  Or, go to a junkyard and grab an original Bosche one from a Rover.  Not many people reinstall those big 23 pound original starters any more, when there is a smaller 12 pound version that spins the engine twice as fast.  If you still want pics, I got a pile of the big ones in the basement.

[rficalora]

The guy I was helping already bought a high torque mini starter like this one...  https://www.classiccarperformance.com/collections/britishstarters-com/products/mg-midget.

When we tried to start, it's just grinding, doesn't seem to be engaging the flywheel at all.  Before I mess with trying to shim it, I was hoping to confirm its the right one - when I asked what he got, he pointed me to the link above that indicates MG Midget.  I'm surprised Midget and Rover motors would use the same starter.  But bolt holes and the centering ring (there is no nose cone) seem to fit ok.

[MGBV8]

Those guys don't give any part numbers to reference for differentiating between Midget, MGB/GT V8, & Rover RV8.

 I found some Denso part numbers for their high torque starters.  Don't seem to be interchangeable.

https://www.ratsport.com/PBCPPlayer.asp?ID=1107438

Rover V8 MGBV8 / Morgan / SD1 (Solenoid underneath)   LMS 055   Denso

MG Midget (948 / 1098 / 1275)   LMS 021   Denso   
MG Midget (1500)   LMS 209   Denso

[MGBV8]

Powerlite makes the RAC403 for the 1275 Midget,  RAC414 for the 1500 Midget, & RAC318 for all Rover V8.

https://powerlite-units.com/starters/rac318.html

[rficalora]

Thanks.  Looks like either he gave me the wrong reference or he bought the wrong starter.  If I can't find markings on the starter to verify it, I'll probably put his old starter back on.  He told me it would click when he tried starting but would start when he tapped the selonoid.  Battery was 95% after sitting a few months so I didn't do any other tests; I just swapped the starter.  Later, I noticed his car had a bracket bolted to the front frame rail that had an engine restraint on it.  The bracket had broken loose, the bolt going to the engine steady didn't have a nut on it, and the motor grounds were laying on the frame rail right behind it.  Pretty confident his starter was fine; just wasn't getting a good ground.  We fixed that so old starter will probably work fine now.

[Blown v8]

My old one,I went to one of the small ones

[rficalora]

Thanks, that looks like the OEM one we removed.

The guy sent me a picture of his receipt this morning and the new starter is for an "MGB GT V8" so should be right for his 3.5L Rover.  The Midget link he sent yesterday was wrong so at least it seems like we have the right one.

[jjohanski]

I am using a Powerlite.  Works great.  Be aware that the Rover and Buick 215 "nose holes" in the engine block are different.  The Buick is slightly smaller that the Rover.

[rficalora]

Good to know.

The starter he had was this one https://www.classiccarperformance.com/collections/britishstarters-com/products/mgb-gt-v8.  

It fit and worked fine in his Rover 3.5L, and appeared very well made.