I have a '56 324 Olds that is using a Hilderbrandt adaptor that moves the starter from the drivers side of the engine to the p***enger side. Anybody know for sure what model of GM starter is used? I'm 99% sure it is not a '56 Olds. Looks like it might be late 50's early '60's 390 Caddy?
I had on of those years ago. I don't remember changing starters, but I do remember grinding alot of iron off of the started gear shroud to clear the flywheel with the starter turned over
I'm trying to do the same swap. The 324 starter won't work. I am guessing,like you that a 56 Caddy will work,but I'm not sure. I would sure like to know if you find out. Thanks!
Back in the day,guys said you could use a Caddy lower bellhousing half.It has the same trans. bolt pattern. I bought one,thinking that I would probably not be able to find a Hildebrant unit. It looks like it would work but the alignment pins are located in a different place. Could be changed.
Whatever the starter is that I've had has been working great. I took the Hilderbrant adapter off to send it to the chrome shop and when i removed the starter I found the snout laying in the adapter. The break appears to be very old, no fresh stress marks, like I said, the car had been starting just fine.
I don't know about the bolt pattern, mine is attached to a 47-48 Ford truck transmission. My alignment pins come out of the bottom of the block.
Mine is attached to a '49 Ford pickup trans. to get the open driveline.It has the same bolt pattern as your 47-48 trans. The dowel pin holes on the Caddy lower bellhousing would need to be relocated by about a half inch and then it would work fine for a changeover. It's a possible solution for someone who cannot find an aftermarket changeover. ...MercDeuceMan...could you please send me the GM part number for the starter that you are using with your Hildebrant changeover? I need it badly. I would surely appreciate it!!
Saturday I left my starter with a well respected automotive electrical shop here in town. They seem to not overly concerned about either welding the snout back on or re-snouting the starter. I asked them is they knew what the starter was and the reponse from the counter man was, "it don't matter"....Should get it back today or tomorrow. Before going there I went to our oldest junkyard in Indy and sifted through what seemed like a hundred starters with no match for a new snout. What I did find out from the owner of the yard was my starter is a 6 volt starter and it is GM. The determining factor that it is 6 volt comes from the factory metal band on the fwd end of the starter motor and the fact that is has the large bendix gear on it.
To use the olds starter, it needs to be installed upside down & grind clearance in the snout for the correct fit. Like what was noted, or use a cad starter.It was all layed out in an old issue of Hot Rod Magazine back in the 50's or early 60's.I have it somewhere in my stack of info, as I need to do that to mine.
Still looking for ideas on what kind of starter I might have. Read the previous posts to see what I am up against.
The Jalopy Journal
