Technical looking for help with early sbc to t5 starter

I have a 57 283 sbc that has holes drilled for a straight and diagonal starter but my problem is that the wholes are 3 inch center to center. the mini starter I got is 3.25" I just picked up another stockright now but it is 3.25 as well.
I know I'm not the first to attempt this combo what have you guys used to fix it. with out drilling the block again. Thanks

 

I believe that the 57 283 had the starter bolted to the cast iron bell housing. That bell housing also had provisions for side mounts and the tranny just hung off the back. Don't know what holes were drilled in the rear pan rail area. Your best choice in my opinion is the properly drill and tap the block to fit the later starter that matched your flywheel diameter.

Kinda working of of old memory banks....your results may vary.

 

Turboglide trans had the only starter that bolted to the block in '57; don't know if one of them would match up to your flywheel, if one even exists anymore.

 

thanks for the info, I'm going to carefully try and drill and tap the block . its funny I should have looked at this earlier as the motor and trans are mounted now.

 

if it doesn't work out, you can find a truck bellhousing, 1955-67 that has the starter mounting provision. also the early V8 cars had a starter mount on the bellhousing, but I seem to find the truck parts more easily.



beware the 68-72 truck bellhousings that also have starter mounting holes, have a larger center hole for the transmission, requiring an adapter ring.