Starter brace- 250 and 454- The same?

[walkerb]

Did some searching and it was mentioned that a 4.1 250 came with a starter brace like the 454.

Is this a fact? If so is it the same as the 454?

Im looking for each and hoping someone has a GM part # or #'s for it. And a pic of it on a 250.

Thanks for the help

[walkerb]

All the things I have found mention nothing (part # or anything 6cyl) about a brace for a 250.

Smallest I have found is for a 262. So I guess the 250 didn't have one.

Can anyone confirm this?

[Tx Firefighter]

FYI, GM still sold them a few months ago. I bought one at the dealership counter. It was less than 10 bucks if I remember correctly.

[walkerb]

Excellent, thanks for the heads up. Did you buy one for the BB?

[Tx Firefighter]

Yes I did. For my 454 truck.

[Axle]

Originally Posted by walkerb

All the things I have found mention nothing (part # or anything 6cyl) about a brace for a 250.

Smallest I have found is for a 262. So I guess the 250 didn't have one.

Can anyone confirm this?

I can confirm that a 1976 Nova with a 250 inline-sick came with a starter brace.

Alex.

[DirtyLarry]

Unless there is some compelling reason why you really want to keep the slow heavy old style starter motor, the later model mini-starters are not only small and light, they flat out work better and do not need any bracing.

I've used this one on many SB and BB projects. AC Delco 323-485. 168 tooth direct replacement for the heavy old starters.


This commercial grade starter is actually the one I use on my Sub and K10. They are expensive but it will be the last starter motor you ever buy. The flywheel will wear out before this one gives up the ghost. Denso 281-8002... fits anything the AC Delco 323-485 will fit. Its really tiny


Both of these starters weigh about half of the stock slow spinning/low torque starters.

[walkerb]

Originally Posted by Axle

I can confirm that a 1976 Nova with a 250 inline-sick came with a starter brace.

Alex.

Thanks I'll search for it. Greatly appreciated!

[Tx Firefighter]

To add onto Larry's post about the factory mini starters. I took these pictures the other day when I installed one onto my beater stepside.

This is a 98 model Tahoe 5.7L fitment starter compared to the original type.The difference in size and weight is hard to believe until you see it in person. GM built some fantastic starters that you can buy at any parts store in America. I much prefer that to an aftermarket one from Summit or other mail order place.

[walkerb]

Originally Posted by DirtyLarry

Unless there is some compelling reason why you really want to keep the slow heavy old style starter motor, the later model mini-starters are not only small and light, they flat out work better and do not need any bracing.

I've used this one on many SB and BB projects. AC Delco 323-485. 168 tooth direct replacement for the heavy old starters.


This commercial grade starter is actually the one I use on my Sub and K10. They are expensive but it will be the last starter motor you ever buy. The flywheel will wear out before this one gives up the ghost. Denso 281-8002... fits anything the AC Delco 323-485 will fit. Its really tiny


Both of these starters weigh about half of the stock slow spinning/low torque starters.

Im trying to keep my 74 as original as possible. But the 75 with the BB im up for doing it right the first time. Thanks for the tip.

No need for a brace with this one? Just new bolts and that's it?

[walkerb]

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

To add onto Larry's post about the factory mini starters. I took these pictures the other day when I installed one onto my beater stepside.

This is a 98 model Tahoe 5.7L fitment starter compared to the original type.The difference in size and weight is hard to believe until you see it in person. GM built some fantastic starters that you can buy at any parts store in America. I much prefer that to an aftermarket one from Summit or other mail order place.

Wow that is quite a difference. Gotta be a 5lbs difference between the two?

[Tx Firefighter]

More difference than that I'd say. I can hold it up into place with the tips of two fingers.

I can't really fully describe the contrast in bulk between the two. When I got the starter from Rockauto, I unboxed it in my kitchen and just stood there mouth agape. I thought it was the wrong starter or something. It looks half scale.

Cranks like a bull though. Size has no correlation to strength of performance.

[Axle]

Did some spec hunting on the various starters, of course I left that bit of paper at work... from my aging memory;
323-485 is rated at 1.7 kw.
1998 Tahoe starter is 1.6kw and 8.1 pounds.
An original/old-skool big bodied starter is 1.4 kw.

The HD mini starters Dirty Larry mentions have an 11 tooth pinion, "original" starters are 9 tooth. And yes, they are designed for a Chevy in case somebody is wondering about that.

And a q for Dirty Larry, do you know of any specific applications for the Denso starter? Sometimes make/model/year does gets things faster.

Alex.

[DirtyLarry]

Originally Posted by Axle

And a q for Dirty Larry, do you know of any specific applications for the Denso starter? Sometimes make/model/year does gets things faster.

Alex.

is your friend!


Yeah, the 281-8002 is actually listed as a direct replacement for many GM vehicles. You can enter part number 281-8002 HERE to see the list.

Even aside from the vehicle list Denso indicates the 281-8002 as a direct replacement, it fits any Chevrolet engine (4.1, 4.3, 5.0, 5.7, 7.4, and 8.1) with 168 tooth flywheel with staggered bolt mounting but the battery cable and ignition feed terminal orientation, and often terminal ends, would need to be changed, which is why they don't actually list it as a direct replacement for other vehicles. These starters are intended for severe duty applications like UPS trucks that start and stop hundreds of times daily. Good stuff! I'll never buy another starter other than a Denso. These are the real deal Made in the USA commercial grade starters unlike the Chinese "high torque" mini-starters the dime store parts stores and mail order race shops like Summit sell.

I have doubts the Denso on my Burb or K10 will ever fail. Now that I said that one of them won't start tomorrow

Here are a few more pictures of it

[Axle]

Thanks, don't know how I missed the denso link yesterday (but it wouldn't be the first time I get different google results at home vs at work vs a different computer at work).

Looks like it has a battery stud and a starter stud so that'll be easy enough to deal with.

Alex.

[walkerb]

So I finally decided to tackle the internment grinding start on my 74 250 manual Saginaw. Well im sure that having a brace on it might have helped. Starter wasted as well as the flywheel obviously.

Flywheel question- New vs. Used. New stuff any good(material)? I have a complete 1977 engine and drivetrain that i can steal a good flywheel from.

But balancing is an issue correct? Flywheel balanced to/with engine

Im a big fan of doing things right the first time so im looking for advise thanks

Some reason I cant post pics from my phone, but I will tomorrow