Buick Skylark 1964-1971 Starter Motor Reference

Is Your Skylark's Starter Failing?

The starter on a 1964-1971 Buick Skylark is a large, heavy component located on the lower part of the engine. Due to its age and design, it can be prone to several issues, especially heat-related problems. If your Skylark is having trouble starting, the starter motor is a common culprit.

Common Failure Symptoms:

• Slow Cranking: The engine turns over very slowly, as if the battery is weak, especially when the engine is hot.
• Clicking Sound: You turn the key and hear a single, loud click, but the engine doesn't crank. This often points to a bad starter solenoid.
• No Sound: You turn the key and nothing happens at all. While this could be a dead battery, it can also be a completely failed starter.
• Grinding Noise: A grinding sound during or after starting can mean the starter gear isn't disengaging from the flywheel correctly.
• Heat Soak Issues: A very common problem with these classic GM cars is "heat soak." The starter works fine when the engine is cold, but after a drive, it cranks slowly or not at all. This happens because the starter is located near the hot exhaust, and the heat increases electrical resistance inside the starter's windings.
🎬 Watch this video to understand and fix starter heat soak.

Choosing the Right Aftermarket Starter

For a 1964-1971 Skylark, you won't find a "New OEM" starter from GM. Instead, you'll choose between remanufactured units and new aftermarket starters. New aftermarket starters often provide significant advantages over the original design.

Standard vs. High-Torque (Mini) Starters

• Standard Replacement Starters: These are designed to look and function like the original Delco starter. They are a good choice for stock, original cars. Brands like ACDelco offer reliable remanufactured options that are a direct fit.
• High-Torque / Mini-Starters: These are a popular and highly recommended upgrade. They use a gear reduction design, which means a smaller, lighter motor can produce more cranking power (torque) with less electrical draw. This makes them ideal for solving heat soak problems and for engines with higher compression. Brands like Powermaster and Proform specialize in these.

Brand Quality Tiers

When shopping for a new starter, you'll encounter several brands. Here's an honest breakdown:

• Performance Tier (Powermaster, Proform): These brands offer high-quality, new-construction, high-torque mini-starters. They are considered an upgrade over stock and are excellent for modified cars or for solving chronic heat-start issues. Powermaster is often praised for its quality and reliability. Proform also offers powerful gear-reduction starters, though some user reviews suggest quality can be hit-or-miss compared to top-tier brands.
• Service Replacement Tier (ACDelco): ACDelco is GM's official parts brand. For this vehicle, they will typically offer a remanufactured starter built to original specifications. This is a solid, reliable choice if you want to maintain originality, but it will still be the large, heavy design prone to heat soak.
• Standard Aftermarket Tier (MPA): Motorcar Parts of America (MPA) is a major manufacturer of remanufactured and new aftermarket parts. Their starters are a cost-effective, standard replacement option that meets original equipment specifications.

Cost of a New Starter Motor (1964-1971 Buick Skylark)

Note: Prices are estimates and can vary based on brand, retailer, and specific vehicle configuration. Labor costs are based on typical shop rates and the straightforward nature of this repair on a classic vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions