Starter info?

for my 38 chevy, b - 4 i head to the local auto place ,can anybody 4-sure tell me what years/model of a smallblock chevy i reference to get a 3 bolt mt on a starter. i have a ?tionable thread for the 2 bolt that was on the motor [partialy busted casting] so i want to be safe and go 2 a 3 holer. thanks folks. the mutant earthling. [ will try to find any replys on the hamb[don't no how 2 get directly to my thread]

 

Just tell them it's for a 57 Chevy. I'm not sure when they changed. Pontiac's changed in 64. This one is less than 60 bucks on Rockauto. com.

 

55-72 pickup trucks with the V8 and manual transmission all used a 3 bolt starter. As did 63-72 trucks with the six and manual trans.

The first few years they had a different design starter, so I'd ask for one of the later ones

 

Are you bolting it to the bell housing or the block?

 

good question, sounds like he thinks that a 3 bolt starter bolts to the 3 holes in the block? They don't, they bolt to the bellhousing.

 

That's what i was thinking.Like you said,any truck starter up till 72.

 

All that text nonsense makes it hard to figure out what you actually want tme.

As the guys said is the starter bolted to the block or the bellhousing?

If it is bolted to the block what size flywheel or flexplate do you have. Lack of good solid information in the original question equals a lack of good solid answers and starts guys to wondering what the hell you are actually trying to do.

 

thank you for the reply's. i am just gettin back into this hobby,so yes to a few i have forgotten some important details.the starter i have bolts to the block[with two 3/8 bolts]. the casting on the outer hole[block] is partially broken. the block has 3--3/8 tapped holes in it. thought i could go to a 3 holer.did not remember bout the other mt. with this info ,is there a starter that will bolt to the 3 holes in the block? later man.

 

I don't think I have seen a block mount three bolt starter. They were always two bolts ,straight across or at an angle. Just some advice ,always put the brace on the snout to the block ,it helps a bunch. Best of luck.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think chevy made 2 styles of starters that bolt to the block. One uses the holes in line with each other. The other one used the holes that were diagonal from each other.

 

Another Thought. If you have a shop that just rebuilds starters and alts in your area they may be able to steer you in the right direction.

 

The outer hole is the common hole for either of the 2-bolt patterns used by Chevrolet for the starters. When the bolts are inline(parallel to flexplate) that is the nose for the small diameter flexplate(153 tooth). When they are staggered, it is the large diameter (168 tooth). You should repair the casting, somehow. Add the starter brace that bolts to the front of starter and the block. That would help keep the starter solid to the block as well.

 

You should s**** the block, really....

 

All depends where it broke off. At least you have the truck bellhousing option if you have a stick set up, truck parts are my weapon of choice.

Bob

 

thanks 4 the additional reply's. without your thoughts i would be at the local auto parts lookin 4 someting that doesn't exist. this site is GGRRReat [as tony the tiger would say] ?tion-- where would i find this brace thingy? thanks again hambers,,, rod

 

Google GM Performance 354353, it's about $10. Bolts to the threaded end bolt on the starter, and to a boss on the side of the block.

 

The reason I suggest s****ping the block, is that I've dealt with a few repaired blocks, and things do not go well when the starter bolt holes are not as they should be.

 

If you are running a stick I'd get a truck bellhousing and either the whole starter to match or the endframe to match to put on your starter. That way the bad hole in the block is out of the picture completely and life is good.
If it is an automatic trans rig I'd have to go with Squirrel and junk the block and start over as trying to bandaid a bad starter mounting hole in a SBC block never seems to totally fix the problem. The end brace will help keep it from flexing around and is a good thing to have but it won't cure the problem.

I went back and read post #8 again and have to ask if there is a crack near the hole on the outer starter bolt hole or if just part of the casting is boogered up and the hole and threads are good. If the hole and or threads are bad I wouldn't want to use it but if there is just a bit of surface damage to the corner of the block you can probably get away with using a block mounted starter.