What is the best starter out there for our trucks?
I tried finding a powermaster, but no joy unless someone can tell me a Gen I SBC one would fit.

 

Are there any that are waterproof? That's what I'm looking for lol

 

While we're at it, any tricks and tips to changing this thing?
I have a 96 and 01, and this is the first started I've had go out on them, I hear it's a pain in the @$$.

 

Yeah, it can be. Having a helper is really nice.

I just had to do mine on the ground, at an offroad park, 90 miles from home.

The wiring has to be removed from the wheel well. There's not enough slack to be able to drop it and access it.

Take off the two mounting bolts. Remove the dust cover from the bell housing, there's two braces from the block you'll take off also. Move the starter around so your helper can more easily access the studs. Once the wires are off, you're good to go.

I've done it by myself, without removing the dust cover, and I wanted to set the truck on fire by the end of it. Taking that cover off is the key. It's only four bolts. Don't even really have to remove it, we took three bolts out, loosened the fourth, and there was enough play to work the starter around. My trans cooler lines were in the way to remove it completely

 

Can/t be. The bell housing has an inspection hole in the bottom, so the water will leak into the space,where the starter is...

As for dismantling - jack up the engine block by an oil pan a little bit. It will give You extra space for orienting the starter.

 

Okay, so I did the youtube thing, watched a couple of guys do it and was dreading doing it.
Gave myself some extra time to get it out and it was waaay easier than I was anticipating.
Watching those videos I noticed that the back of the starter was visible from the wheel well, so when I started I took off the wheel, and shazam!!
It took me three minutes to disconnect the wires another five for the starter itself and it's out.

Now just waiting for the new starter to arrive.

 

Did you have to come up on the motor any? I know on mine there's not much room between the frame and exhaust manifold to get to the wiring. It's possible, just tight

 

Nope, I mean I'm a big guy so I jacked the truck up and have it on stands, but no jack on the motor itself; went right in from the wheel well, even my gorilla hands (have to special order XXL latex gloves) had no problems with the wiring, used a 1/4" drive and good to go.

When I get the new one in I'll snap a pic of it through the wheel well

 

Nice! Me and a buddy changed mine in an offroad park Saturday, with the 33" still on the truck. I was having a hell of a time getting to the terminals, my buddy squeezed in and got it without too much trouble

 

sorry about the blurry pics, but you get the idea
made it easy, 10 min off, 10 min back on