Need Help!!! Cant find starter to fit Chevrolet 283

Not sure why I am having so much trouble. Engine is a SBC 283 1958-64. Bellhousing is for a 3-speed. I was told that it was out of a mid 60's Nova. I can find starters that fit the engine block but the nosecone on the starter will not fit in the tranny bellhousing. Any one else ran into this problem??

 

That bell may be for a 6 cyl., you may have some problems there. Check around there may be a mid plate that you are missing that the starter bolts to.

You only 2 of the 3 bolts as shown. I went to a guy locally that rebuilds starters and such. He had the nose cone I was looking for sitting on the shelf, wasn't cheap but I had to have it.

I would suggest checking with your local rebuilders if you have any in your area.

 

jrblack30 Was the nosecone you ended up with for a 6 cyl bellhousing?

 

shouldn't that be '58 to '62 for that block?

what year did they switch starter mount location?

 

Not sure about 58-62. I looked up the block #3737739. production # is FII26EB13. The only #'s I could find on the bellhousing are 3849309.

 

Its a newer bell housing.I had it happen one time on one of my beaters so i just cut the corner of the bellhousing off. No starter will fit.
Maybe a Mini but i did not have one on the shelf at the time.

 

You may be onto something there. If the ball housing was for a 6 cylinder it likely used the smaller flywheel. A larger diameter flywheel would leave less room in there.

Do you know what flywheel you have on there now, how many teeth?

 

It looks to be a 14lb vette flywheel to me?? It lines up with the center of the starter bolts

 

Built a car a few years ago, ran a 283 and 4 spd...never would have guessed there were so many different parts that werent compatable. I do recall starter issues, but not exactly what they were. I know I'm no help, but good luck.

 

Summit racing mini starter will clear that I think, 99 bucks and there is no nose cone. All the bearings are inside the starter and the gear just extends out of the mounting plate.

Bad news, on a car where it shows that much it will lok out of place I think.

 

The nose cone I ended up buying was drilled for both the straight and angled starter housing. I would not fit that bell housing you have there.

I have no idea what you need for that bell housing. i have never seen a bell like it before. Is that bell possibly marine???? Either way there is a strater that will fit, just got to find it. The threaded holes in the bell facing the block look like the accept a mid plate, curiously odd.

 

3849309, all kinds of information on this as a nova bell, 10-1/2" clutch. But it doesn't say if it is for V8, straight 6 or the L-4 that was available. I would be looking for a nova starter and go from there. I didn't think the Nova had a different bell and starter.

BELL This sure looks the bellhousing you have. I have no clue as to starter that will fit.

 

Your bellhousing is for a 153 tooth flywheel, but your block needs a 168, so you can't get there from here. Only solution is to open up the bellhousing to get the correct starter to fit the block. Your block is new enough to fit either type starter since it's got the 3 holes and you can use parallel bolt pattern, or diagonal pattern, but neither fit the bellhousing for a 153 tooth flywheel.
Maybe the mini starter will work. I've never tried one.

 

I would try a different bellhousing. That way you can get a starter at any parts store if your starter goes out. You don't want to loose one of the benifits of a SBC by having an oddball or special order starter.

 

if its a 168 tooth flywheel 68-72 chevelle stickshift cars had a starter with a cast iron nose cone that is very small, ill do some digging and see if i can find a part number

so application at a parts store would be 1971 chevelle, 350 4speed

jeff

 

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/s...1971&make=Chevrolet&model=Chevelle&vi=1039508

try this link to orielly

if you have a 153 tooth flywheel your in trouble

 

I'd remove the offending metal. Sawzall away the interference on the bell.

Than a starter for the big flywheel can be used.

 

As nice and detailed as the car is get the right bellhousing,if you butcher that one up you"ll just be getting crap all up into your clutch and pressure plate.to nice of a car to just rig up.

 

What car is it in? Do you have any pics? The engine sure looks nice.

 

you have the small bellhousing with a large flywheel. get a large housing, it has a c shaped opening for your starter. if you look at your housing the side where the starter fits is straight, this is a small housing. if you change to a larger housing you might also have to change your starter snout to a smaller pointed cast iron snout usually found on manual shift cars with 11 inch clutches, jack.

 

So many choices of what to do. Thanks for all the input. I really don't wan't to cut up the bellhousing and I hope that I don't have to run a mini starter. Are there any tricks to find out how many teeth are on the flywheel? Or should I start counting? Oh yea the car is a 30 model A sedan.

 

Yes that is a real pretty chevy motor. The colors are very cool.


Anyways, I'd find a normal bell. I have no clue what that one is but it needs to go.

 

This course of logic should leave you shopping for a different bell housing. And personally that's what I'd be doing if I were you. Nothing like having the right parts for the right job...instead of trying to make a round peg fit in a square hole.

 

The 2 things you dont want to do...........pretty sure they are your only options. The bellhousing needs to come off its just going to be trouble anyway. Somebody i am sure has a free one laying around. A newer truck housing should let you use anything. That is one oddball bell. Get rid of it. Hell cut the corner off the bell and mount a starter.That way you know everthing works. Its not worth anything any way. Pretty sure it may be off one of the odd little newer smallblocks.
Just 1 other question...... i see another problem in your pix. Are those dowels on the block going into the bell.They look to be a bit wrong. They look to me to be pushed in the wrong way and too deep to work. If those are not rite you may do damage to the clutch and or trans.

 

I agree. Motor is lookin' good.

 

Looking at your pixs again you really have NO choice the bell has to come off .The dowels are not in correct and its not lining up the bell to block. So you have bigger problems than just the starter.Pull it apart...its only 1 hour tops.

 

You need a 153 tooth flywheel will solve your problem....................

 

See how close the pressure plate bolts are to the ring gear on the flywheel? Pretty sure it is a 153. Like i said it got bigger problems.

 

^^Matt, you have a 168 tooth flywheel and a small bell housing. If you change the flywheel to the smaller diameter and use a corresponding starter you will be fine. Trouble is the holding power of a small clutch will limit use.

Most of the larger flywheel bells had mounts for the starter on them instead of the block, up until 72, especially in the trucks. I have one of those if you would like to give it a shot. Hell you could massage the bell housing/motor mount ears off and make it work out. Then you could run either starter. Bell mount or block.

-Brant

 

I don't see what you are seeing...