i don’t know if this is the right place to post this but here goes. I have a 59 Thunderbird J code 430 with a cruise o matic ******. The starter went bad and wasn’t releasing fully when I would start the car. I don’t have much experience with Ford transmissions nor their starters. I am used to Chevy and Chevy starters. To look at the flywheel all I have to do is drop the flywheel cover and check it out. I pulled the starter and rebuilt it but I want to check out the flywheel but don’t know how to do it. The starter is strange to me with a long rod and a starter gear that goes on it and slides in deep. How do I check the flywheel to make sure it’s good. It’s a h***le taking the starter in and out so I only want to have to do it one time out and one time back in.
Just drop the inspection cover and take a look see up inside. I would suggest that if you are not familiar with that old style starter bendix to have it checked out before reinstalling. To retract the gear, run the gear up against a wire wheel. At a fairly fast speed it will retract itself and make it easier to reinstall. That 59 with a 430 is a rare car. If it has the sunroof its a keeper ! Oldmics
I never realized that it had an inspection cover that is good to know. I have the original bendix gear but my new starter gear is the replacement for it which is the one that you close by using the wire wheel. The starter was a bear because it called for the 3117 starter that was discontinued I ordered the 3115 and didn’t know there was a difference. With the 430 the exhaust was in the way of the positive bolt and it really had me scratching my head. So Ford made the 3117 and moved the power bolt over a couple of inches Yes it is a very rare one. 59 only optioned 200 j codes as a trial and had a full option in 1960. The 1960 was the year that had the “golde top” those are sweet cars. Mine was white when I got it. I’ve put about $8k in it in 2017 new paint rims tires chrome. Working on the starter , electric windshield wiper conversion and new heater core.
That is what I did. I rebuilt the starter. Because I didn’t know there was a different starter for the 352 engine. I like the rims on it that’s why I bought them. It was between them and cragar SS in the end I chose the riddler rims because they kept a cl***ic look with newer vibes and I know when I go with the willwood disc break upgrade, it requires the use of 17 inch or larger rims.
Also be careful if you get a new starter or starter rebuild. Ford in their infinite wisdom changed the gear pitch and the flex plate diameter somewhere in 1964-65. Older style have co**** pitch, 153 teeth. Later ones have 184, finer pitch teeth. They are incompatible. Sounds like your car ash the old style with the long nose Bendix. Most replacement starters for FE engines are the modern 184 pitch style which won't mesh with the older flex plate ring gear. I have found one or two guys selling new starters for the old units but they are not the norm. Ain't hot rodding fun?!!
I will make sure to check that out. Many of the places I have checked quite a few places and the people were clueless on what worked on what they were selling. I went to one of the cl***ic Tbird places so I would eliminate all of the h***le. It didn’t. I got the 352 they told me they would ship the proper one out and they had it in stock. After a week I hadn’t seen it. Turns out it wasn’t in stock and they didn’t know where to get one so I learned that I could rebuild it with the old parts and new brushes. I did that and decided I was going to replace the gear as the edges were worn so I ordered it and got the new style. I called them up and they said oh you have the old one the new one won’t work ship it back and we will refund you. I decided to research it. Another said it wouldn’t work then I found a few that said it would work because it was the replacement for the old style.
In your experience would it be best to replace the starter and the flex plate at the same time if they both need it? Easier to update to modern specs?
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