Starter Motor

[motovate]

I've got a 71 chevy 3/4T 4x4 with a 300hp+ 350 crate engine. Manual Transmission with the old bell housing. It uses the old style starter that bolts horizontally into the Bell housing - 3 bolts. Does anyone know of a hight torque starter that will fit this old bell housing????? I just put a new rebuilt on and it is starting to sound rough - not like it is slipping on the teeth but like it's rattling around inside of the starter. I've got a mini high torque starter on my newer 350's and like it.; I'd like to put one on the 71 but they all look like they mount vertically not horizontally.

Thanks - LBM

[krue]

Have you looked to see if the bellhousing will be in the way of mounting it to the engine block?

[Green Machine]

You could try a big block starter from say a 1975 454 truck. They have larger armatures inside and more torque but are same size outside as small block starters. Just put the cast iron nose on the big block starter with a new front bushing.

[motovate]

Actually I thought this would have a common cure and many would answer with the simple fix!

When I changed out the starter I just got a replacement for the old style. The original problem seemed like it was the solinoid - just clicking on me everyonce in a while and I changed out the entire starter just to be safe - so I didn't look to see if the newer style would fit the block.

Sounds like I can just switch out the nose with a BB starter - I might try that. Any idea if the 71 or earlier BB starter mounted to the bell housing and if the bell housing for a 350 will fit a BB - maybe I can just get an early BB starter and stick it in????? Probably not that simple????

Thanks.

LBM

[Green Machine]

Sure, makes sense, BBC should use same bellhousing as the SBC, I just get too many junkyard parts and put them together I guess. Check this out, this is the "premium" one the regular one is cheaper, it is for a 1971 3/4 ton with a 402 and manual tranny - Likely available at any part store, not just napa.


http://www.napaonline.com/masterpage...emfd+-+Premium

[motovate]

Thanks - I think that may be the way to go - nose looks the same - I'll look into it locally. Closest junk yard to me is about 60 miles away and with the cost of gas it's likely cheaper to get a new or a rebuilt Heavy Duty starter from a parts house.

LBM