Cast Iron nose Starter Bolts 1971 K10 350 4spd

[Mr Chevy]

Hello everyone, first off: Go Seahawks!!!
Ok now with that out of the way. I have a 1971 Chevy K10
Previous owner put the automatic trans alum nose starter on the truck and it isnt starting correctly. I purchased the proper cast iron nose cone which i was told Im suppose to have for a standard trans but the alum bolts up to the block the cast iron nose bolts horizontally to the bell housing. I need to know what size bolts to purchase to be apply to install my new correct starter.
Thanks in advance for your help.

[ray_mcavoy]

You'll need two 3/8"-16 x 1" bolts, one 3/8"-16 x 1-3/4" bolt, and three 3/8" split ring lock washers.

The two shorter 1" long bolts go through the 2 un-threaded holes in the starter nose and screw into the bellhousing. The one longer 1-3/4" bolt goes in from the opposite direction ... through an un-threaded hole in the bellhousing and screws into a threaded hole in the starter nose.

[Mr Chevy]

Awesome, perfect. Thanks alot for the info Ray huge help. Thanks again.

[MARKDTN]

I thought the bolt-to-bellhousing starter was just for 6-cyl?

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by Mr Chevy

Awesome, perfect. Thanks alot for the info Ray huge help. Thanks again.

You're welcome! Glad I could help.

Originally Posted by MARKDTN

I thought the bolt-to-bellhousing starter was just for 6-cyl?

They were used with both 6-cyl and V8 engines. Chevy cars stopped using the bellhousing mounted starters in the early 60's but GM pickup trucks continued to use them up to 1972.

[Mr Chevy]

The only reason im even trying to put the bolt to the bell housing cast iron nose starter on is because im having a starter problem where it cranks but sometimes stops cranking and spins freely like it doenst engage correctly. I checked out AutoZone and their computers say automatics use aluminum bolt to block and manuals use cast iron bolt to bell housing. So I assumed my problem was related to having the wrong starter not simply a defective starter. Does anyone else on here have a 71 with manual and use the alum starter that bolt upward to the block like every other chevy i have ever had?

[Mr Chevy]

I just took my old starter off. I dont think my bell housing has the holes for the cast iron nose. I think I may just have a defective starter and need to replace it with another alum bolt to the bolt starter.

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by Mr Chevy

I just took my old starter off. I dont think my bell housing has the holes for the cast iron nose. I think I may just have a defective starter and need to replace it with another alum bolt to the bolt starter.

Yes, if you don't have the original type bellhousing with starter mounting provisions you'll have to stick with a block mounted starter.

There are both cast iron and aluminum starter noses that bolt to the engine block. The cast iron ones were typically used with manual transmission applications using the larger 168 tooth flywheel and have the staggered (one ahead of the other) bolt pattern. The aluminum nose with the staggered bolt pattern was mostly used with automatics with 168 tooth flexplates and doesn't always fit into a manual trans bellhousing. The aluminum nose starters with the straight-across bolt pattern fit the smaller 153 tooth flywheel/flexplate applications.