The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Keeping the original foot starter

I ran a search with no luck but I am sure someone has the answer to my question. I have a 38 1/2 truck and have installed a small block 350 with a t-5 5 speed. I would like to keep the original foot starter function and look in the cab. Anyone know how to convert the newer starter to the older starter function? Or do you use the older 6v starter? Which brings up the mounting question. I think you get the idea any help would be great.
Thanks, Mike

I doubt if anyone has done this with a V8 but there was a recent discussion of keeping the floor starter with a later 6. The suggestion was to adapt an electrical switch to energize the solenoid that the foot pedal could activate.

Life's to short two screw with the foot starter on your set up. However, if you must, you'll have to rig it up to press on a push button starter switch that would activate the solenoid. You need to find an old timey starter rebuild shop to rig this up.

i would like to do the same in my 56 w/ a 350 so please let me know if you find something out. and where did you get your trans?

Get one of these (or a similar switch) and mount it in the floor, run some wires and start it up.

This question gets asked often enough, I wonder if it would be worthwhile to set up a dummy stomp starter and make it available as a kit? A piece of steel rod, a guide bushing that mounts to the floor, and a push button starter switch would make a passable-looking stomper that would energize a solenoid starter and fool the average observer.
Jerry

Jerry I've had the same thought. If you could modify the pivots to bolt to the floor instead of the bellhousing I think it would be easier to maintain the original look in the cab.

Since the usual "upgrade" involves a V8 engine an an automatic transmission, I think a self-contained assembly that eliminates the bow-shaped original linkage and incorporates a spring-loaded plunger that just bolts to the floor in the general area of the stomp pedal would get the job done. IIRC, isn't there supposed to be a bellows-shaped rubber boot around the stomper pedal? That could be used to conceal the mounting system for the fake pedal. The push button switch could be mounted on the firewall side and the original hole in the firewall could be used for the pedal shaft to push through to it.
Jerry

I know my situation and solution is not exactly the same, but the idea may work..
Look at This Picture
My starter uses an air valve to engage it, so I made a simple adapter bushing to screw the original cast starter button with 3/8-24 thread onto the 1/4-20 stem on the air valve.
Right now it's temporally attached to the flywheel housing, but when the cab is in place it mounts to and under the floor with two screws.

Is there a similar electric switch that could be attached to the floor and adapt the cast button to it, no linkage necessary?

Grigg

To make the pedal look and feel like the original stomper, it's going to be necessary for it to move 2 to 3 inches before the starter engages. My idea is to make a firmly spring-loaded 1/2" rod slide through a bushing for a couple of inches, hitting a mechanical stop just as it pushes the starter button under the floor. The start circuit can go through a neutral safety switch or clutch safety switch to prevent starting in gear if necessary.
Jerry

I know what you mean about the interlock, my air valve is pretty stiff to push, but only moves a fraction of an inch, which suits me fine.
To prevent accidental starts inline with the foot valve I'll use a cable actuated air valve operated by the choke cable, so one must choke my Detroit Diesel before it'll start

Grigg

I thought we had it all figured out. See https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...;Main=66531&Number=480008#Post480008 for more info.

Best wishes,

Les

Les, In scanning that thread I couldn't find any pictures or good links to what you did figure out, can you elaborate here, and or update that thread?

Grigg

Hey guys I never thought I would get so many ideas. Thanks to all who have responded I will try a couple of these and see which one works best for me. Thanks again and keep the responses coming.
Mike

Hey guys thanks for all the suggestions, I will try a couple of these and see which one works best for me. Thanks again and keep the suggestions coming.
Mike

@ Grigg and Mike38,

Get one of those Farmall starter switches like Ghostrider suggests. It is longer than the generic one that I have. Use it to operate a solenoid like Mad Electrics "Start 'em up" kit. The deed is done! Although the Farmall switch will handle enough amps, It would mean running a lot of long, heavy starter cable. With the solenoid 12ga is plenty, so It is cheaper and easier to wire. Use the original on/off ignition switch as before. No change there. To make it look original, cut the cap off an original foot starter pedal, find a piece of waterpipe that will just fit over the end of Farmall switch, and weld it on the back of the cap. Drill and tap for a couple of radial set screws so you can lock the cap on the switch. There you have it, an electric foot starter for late model starters on V-8 or L6!

Best wishes,

Les