The starter adaptors I wrote about two months ago are finally being
produced by a machine shop; it took a little longer than anticipated but
they look very nice. To refresh your memory, these are necessary to
adapt the late-1990's TDI gear-drive starter to the waterboxer bell
housing. This will be the perfect solution for diesel conversions and
other engine conversions requiring a higher-power starter and using the
waterboxer bell housing with an adaptor plate. The current starter that
most use is the IMI / Hi-torque starter, which has been proven to fail
rapidly in addition to not having sufficient cranking speed for diesels
in cold weather.

One thing I've discovered is that not all adaptor plates in use bolt up
to bell housing in the same way. The prototype I built uses a
through-bolt from the starter mount through the adaptor plate and a nut
on the other side. Then I noticed that the Kennedy adaptor for 15-degree
VW inline engines uses a stud that is placed in the adaptor plate before
bolting to the bell housing. In this case I'll need to offer a slightly
different bolt for that location to enable the starter adaptor to work.
So: I'd like to hear from at least one person with each type engine and
adaptor plate: Subaru-4 - and 6-cylinder, 15-degree VW, 50-degree VW,
and any others that are being done.

A second adaptor is in the works for use on the stock diesel Vanagon
bell housing, that will be a few weeks longer.

Pricing will be in the $45-50 range. If you have an interest in one of
these and have NOT already written to me to be in on the first
production run, please email me at this address only:
tdistarterproject@westyventures.com .

Thanks,

Karl Mullendore
www.westyventures.com
301.432.4645