Using a stomp Starter for a V-8 ??

Husker44A

Well-known Member
I am getting a 51 Chevy 1/2 T pickup. The sixer is stuck. Going to convert to V-8. But, wanting to stay with the Stomp Starter mechanisam if I can figure out HOW TO DO IT !!! SO, JOHN T amd othrr sparkies. HOW can I do this ??? Thanks. This will be a 12v system too.
 
Not all that hard to do since many Chev starter can be taken apart and you take 2 or 3 to make one that is as you want it to be
 
Does that use a big pushbutton switch in the floor or does it use a linkage to a switch on the starter?
 
1951 has the big button on the floor with linkage to the starter I know because the boy had one up till this summer
 
Mount a solenoid on the other side of the firewall. Use a solenoid off of something like a Farmall M - they have a stomp starter but the "stomp" actuates the solenoid that is separate of the starter. The old stomp starter in your truck used a mounted solenoid like a Farmall A.
 
I burned up 2 of those new junk push buttons on my Super M so now I use the button to actuate a ford type solenoid hidden in the rear fuel tank supt. Works great now, should work for his V/8.
 
Had a friend way back that took the 6 cyl. out of a Studebaker pickup and put in a V-8 in our shop. He drove it home 3 miles and parked it, never to be used again. The added weight on the front axle made it extremely hard to steer.
 
If the ability to change to a different engine was there, I would have thought about putting power steering on it somehow.
 
That was back in pre-power steering days, but I would have been concerned that the steering assembly could have handled all the forces that power steering could apply to the parts.
 
If it's a modern V8 with a solenoid on the starter, just wire the stop starter button into the small wire that goes to the solenoid. The one that normally would go to the key switch.
 
"But, wanting to stay with the Stomp Starter mechanisam if I can figure out HOW TO DO IT !!! SO, JOHN T amd other sparkies. HOW can I do this"

Husker, I take you at your word so will answer your question regarding using a STOMP STARTER and NOT talk about an electric solenoid conversion.

1) A person could use either of two types of mechanical PUSH switches instead of an electric solenoid arrangement.

A) One is a direct heavy duty PUSH DOWN switch (such as on the floor or mounted elsewhere) that's simply a Normally Open 2 terminal high current switch, one post to battery other to starter. Those were used on some trucks (floor) and some tractors like Farmall H/M where the switch was up on the steering pedestal. The starter, of course, has to have an external threaded post/stud where the big cable from the switch connects. Such a switch is readily available at Tractor Supply or NAPA etc.

NOTE some (but NOT if solenoid was also used to engage drive) later model V8 GM starters that came equipped with an on board electric solenoid COULD STILL BE USED WITH AN EXTERNAL PUSH SWITCH (ie remove the solenoid) as they have that flat double strap out the side (which solenoid connected to with a screw) and you would have to modify/rig the battery cable down from the switch with a suitable heavy duty high current terminal end for connection to the small flat double cable/strap that exits the side of the starter.

YOU SIMPLY USE A LATER GM STARTER (so long as NOT the ones where solenoid also engaged drive, iffffffffffffff any were made, NOTE Im NOTTTTTTT familiar with any however) AND REMOVE THE SOLENOID AND ATTACH THE BIG CABLE FROM SWITCH TO THE STARTER STRAP/TERMINAL.


HOWEVER that small flat double strap isn't very long out of the starter so you have to use some care and ingenuity so the heavy battery cable end gets firmly attached to that strap. IM ONLY SAYING IT CAN BE MADE TO WORK IM NOTTTTTTTTTTT SAYING ITS EASY so don't anyone have a calf now.


NOTE AND CAVEAT AND SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT HOWEVER************************************

Many of those type starters used the BARREL TYPE solenoid FOR TWO PURPOSES, one for the electric switch the other ENGAGED THE STARTER DRIVE so if you try to use that type of starter the problem is the motor will spin BUT YOU WONT ENGAGE THE DRIVE SINCE that's one of the jobs those barrel solenoids performed (switch plus starter drive).

BUT DONT GIVE UP YET LOL

If you wanted you could still use a floor mount stomp switch BUT ALLOW IT TO SWITCH/FEED THE GM STARTER WITH ITS ORIGINAL IN PLACE BARRELL SOLENOID. On those GM V8 starters a small wire down from the ignition switch fed voltage to one of the small solenoid terminals and when that took place (turned key to start) the electric solenoid closed (so voltage got to the side double strap out of starter) PLUS the plunger engaged the drive into the flywheel teeth.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO even if its major overkill if you still wanted you could still use a push stomp switch to engage the GM double duty (electric plus engage drive) solenoind INSTEAD OF USING A KEY SWITCH. yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy


B) Some GMC and other old trucks instead had a push down spring loaded return pedal on the floor you stepped on to push in/down to start. Those used saddle mount mechanical push switches mounted on the starter side which the pedal being used to push down the button on those saddle mount starter switches. HOWEVER to modify such is harder then the above as you one have to get a starter with the side saddle mount switch (which floor pedal pushes down) for your V8 engine HMmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

NOTE some Ford V8 starters had the starter engage solenoid on the starter side but used the external electric solenoid to send power down to the starter. If you had one of those Ford starters and wanted to use such down stomp switch instead of the solenoid, simply toss the solenoid and replace it with the mechanical switch, UNLIKE THE GM ABOVE, FORD THE STARTER WILL STILL ENGAGE since its onboard engagement still works, nothing else required.

NUFF SAID it can be made to work, a Ford starter would be easy as ONLY the push switch (not the Ford solenoid) is needed while a GM can still work, just use the push switch to replace what a key turn used to do.

John T Coming to you LIVE from the Florida Flywheelers (Jan and Feb shows) stop by and say howdy, far Northwest corner of exhibitors field, White Class C Chevy Four Winds RV, Row 74 site 27
 
John T, What ABOUT a seperate switch UNDER the FOOT STOMP pedal that sends POWER FROM that switch to the V-8 STARTER ???? Sounds simple to me. I just want originality L@@KS !! Its NOT going to be a $100K ShowTruck.
 
(quoted from post at 03:15:42 01/09/15) Had a friend way back that took the 6 cyl. out of a Studebaker pickup and put in a V-8 in our shop. He drove it home 3 miles and parked it, never to be used again. The added weight on the front axle made it extremely hard to steer.

The small block Chevy V8 does not weigh any more than the original 235 in-line 6.
 
(quoted from post at 03:15:42 01/09/15) Had a friend way back that took the 6 cyl. out of a Studebaker pickup and put in a V-8 in our shop. He drove it home 3 miles and parked it, never to be used again. The added weight on the front axle made it extremely hard to steer.

The small block Chevy V8 does not weigh any more than the original 235 in-line 6.
 
Hello husker44a,

How about a starter solenoid with a foot switch?
You can mount the solenoid to the firewall, and wire it to the starter. Foot switch would provide the power to engage the solenoid. Battery power at one side of the solenoid, starter power on the other side,

Guido.
 
I used to drive one of those for an old friend back in the 70's. That was a sweet running and driving truck. Personally, I sure wouldn't dump the 6cyl for a v8. The truck would loose too much character. Anybody and everybody has dumped a v8 into those trucks. I would free the 6 or rebuild it. You'd be up and running faster with a much better truck.
 
You don't really need any separate switch, just use the foot stomp (its a normally open switch) to send voltage to the small terminal on a GM barrel starter solenoid that used to connect to the key "Start" position and as long as the switch is held down she cranks. All it needs is hot battery voltage on its input and wire the output to a GM solenoid on its small S terminal and when depressed she will crank HOWEVER YOU still need a big battery cable with always hot voltage on the GM solenoids big post terminal so when you push the stomp switch the GM solenoid is activated and she cranks. You only need small wire like 12 or 14 Gauge on the input and output of the stomp down to the barrel solenoids small S terminal, but of course a big battery cable from battery + down to the big post. The stomp just does what turning the key to start position does.

For a Ford V8 starter you can EITHER use the stomp for the full high current down to the starter so it takes a big battery cable from battery to switch and another from switch down to starter post. That just replaces the ford solenoid with a mechanical push switch orrrrrrrrrrrrrrr you can still use the Ford solenoid and use the stomp with small wires to engage the Ford solenoids small S terminal

John T
 
When I was young and foolish, I removed a v8 and installed a slant 6. NEVER AGAIN. I was lucky to find a bell housing that matched engine to tranny. I had to make a 1/4 spacer to go between bell and engine. Had to make all radiator hoses. I would take 2 hoses with the bends I needed, cut them to fit my application. Used muffler pipe to splice them together. Biggest challenge was making a flywheel that bolted to engine and had course starter teeth. The flywheel that fit the engine I wanted to use had fine teeth on it. Then I had to find an oil pan for a truck because the oil pan on a car wouldn't work.

It was a summer long project. I said never again.

I realize I didn't answer your question. Wish you luck finding all the parts you need for your conversion. Going with a bigger engine may require modifying front end too.

BTW, I'm no longer young, just....
 
husker44a:

Strongly recommend keeping the Key Switch, just wire the hot lead from the "ON" position of the Key Switch to the "Input" of the "Stomp Switch". Without the Key Switch ANYONE can jump into your truck, start it, & drive away with it. Key Switch keeps people from taking your truck if they don't have the Key.


:>)
 
87, I am going to TRY MY HARDEST to free the Inline Sixer for sure !!! I have unstuck SEVERAL engines using Marvel Mystery Oil. Last engine was a four cyl diesel in a Fordson Major. Had sat outside open exhaust and NO AIRCLEANER Tube or hood for atleast 10 yrs. That worked good. I think the Chevy 216 wont take that much work to free up.
 
Walt, THATS how I am going to do it !! Now, can you suggest a "Stomp Switch" ? I have looked on the NET and found some but not what i am wanting. Is this a MONETARY switch or NO ?
 
Guido, YES thats what i want to use. BUT Where can I find those ???? All this Stomp Switch has to do is put power to the starter solinoid. Cant be that hard to do. Theres a car show at the end of August Called Kool Deadwood Nights in Deadwood ,SD. Cruise Night,Carshow, Bands on Mainstreet all night, Really a good time. So, ive got eight months to get this thing goin. Should be enough time I hope. My youngest boy (10 yrs old) thinks we should have started last week !!! We'll make it Son !! :). Its in good shape and im not planing on any paint either. Just seal in the last 65 yrs with used tranny oil.
 
Those high current mechanical push down switches are:

Normally Open

Momentary (means only closed as long as depressed)

Spring Return (to Normally Open)

They were used on Farmall M & H and other Tractors as well as several older autos and are rated maybe 200 - 300 amps or so, I'm unsure BUT they have to be heavy duty high current you realize???

Tractor Supply or Rural King or NAPA should have them on the shelf and in stock. If you don't see any as originally listed for your truck, look for a Farmall M or H Pedestal Mounted starter switch.

NOTE HOWEVER SUCH IS REQUIRED ONLYYYYYYYYYY IF YOURE USING IT TO SWITCH AND CONDUCT THE FULL HEAVY (100 TO 300) STARTER AMPS ORRRRRR IF YOU JUST WANT TO KEEP THE ORIGINAL LOOK

IF YOU JUST WANT A PUSH TO START LIGHT DUTY NON ORIGINAL and using it ONLY to do what the key start would do, a light duty 50 volts or more rated 10 amp or so NORMALLY OPEN MOMENTARY SPRING RETURN (to Normally Open) PUSH OPERATED SWITCH WILL WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I posted below YOU DO NOT NEED ANY OTHER EXTRA SWITCH just let the push switch do what the key switch does when in the START position, that's 12 volts but very low current.....

John T
 
Hello husker44a,

You can get one at your local parts store. They Use them as a switch to the starter in many applications. Ford IH Freightliner. Get one with a single small post. It will be grounded ones you mounted. Battery on one side, starter feed on the other,12 Volts to the small wire from the foot switch, and you good to go. If you need more info, let me know. Good Luck........

Guido.
 

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