How do you start an Indy Car?

[Scott Colmer]

OK race fans..

The question is... what did they use to start an Indy car back in 1985. One with a March chassis. I am guessing they used a remote starter, but where did it plug in? A pic would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks to anyone who can help or tell me where to find out.

Scott

[Jairus]

Generally the starter would plug into a socket in the back end of the transmission. This depends on the engine/trans manufacturer of course....

[Brendan]

Like what Jairus said, there should be a little plug-in in the back of the transmission case which they would plug into a starter to start the motor. They also would push start them as well. And in some cases there was an actual electronic ignition on some of the cars. It depended on who was the owner of the car and what motor and chassis they were using. Also it would depend on if it was a road course car or an oval course car. I'm assuming that since you're saying it is an Indy car that it is an oval course car.

[MikeMc]

GOOGLE

http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/lola/121...216150048pp.htm

In the middle...silver plate... partially hidden in this shot......even though this one has a batt and starter!

http://www.race-cars.com/carsales/lola/121...216150048le.htm

Edited February 21, 2009 by MikeMc

[Art Anderson]

Like what Jairus said, there should be a little plug-in in the back of the transmission case which they would plug into a starter to start the motor. They also would push start them as well. And in some cases there was an actual electronic ignition on some of the cars. It depended on who was the owner of the car and what motor and chassis they were using. Also it would depend on if it was a road course car or an oval course car. I'm assuming that since you're saying it is an Indy car that it is an oval course car.

Indy cars, for decades, have relied on portable electric starter units (for years, built by Joe Hunt, of magneto fame). By Indy cars, I mean cars that are Indianapolis-legal.

In the front engine years, the crankshaft had a quick connect/release coupling (much like the center nut on a Model A or flathead V8 Ford engine) which would be engaged by a long steel shaft having a pair of pins set perpendicular to its centerline. That starter rod was supported by a tube or collar on a subframe out in front of the rest of the chassis (see the AMT '63 Agajanian Willard Battery Spl--Parnelli Jones' 1963 Indy winner to see this detail--it sticks out through the left-hand "nostril" of the nose of a Watson Roadster) and connected by a similar affair to a very stout aircraft electric starter, powered by multiple 12v batteries (almost always on a rollaround cart). Insert the starter rod, then push the starter against that rod, press the button, and it spun the engine over until it started. Simply back off the starter, pull it away, and pull the shaft out of it's tube, and get out of the way. Rear engine cars (from the first one to make the show--Dan Gurney's Mickey Thompson Harvey Aluminum rear engine Buick clear through to today) use this same basic system, but connecting to the input shaft of the transaxle, which extends through the housing all the way to the rear cover plate of the transaxle, much like a PTO on a farm tractor (these are generally covered with a swing-away plate, for safety's sake and to keep dirt out). On the famed Novi V8 Indianapolis cars, due to their having been originally set up for front wheel drive, that V8 engine had its starter drive set at a right angle, off the front (if rear drive, rear of the engine in the earlier front drives) engine mount (this used an Offenhauser/Miller style single front engine mount) by means of a bevel gear set--the starter drive (originally a hand crank) inserted from the left (pit wall) side of the engine bay.

While an Indy car can be towed with another vehicle to start the engine, they almost never can be pushed fast enough by human power alone--too much compression, need too many rpms for humans to accomplish by themselves, and the lack of really stout rear push bars or nerf bars (the old roadsters) for push trucks. So, it was either hand crank the things (back in the 30's) or portable electric starters (beginning in the late 40's) all the way out to today. Watch the start of the 500 on TV sometime, you will see the crewman inserting the starter, pressing the button, and then pulling it away once the engine fires.

Art

[Scott Colmer]

Thanks guys.

I knew the knowledge was here.

The link to me to another great pic of where the starter is connected. It's just a hole at the bottom on the back of the transaxle. Perfect for what I have set up and easy to replicate.

Scott