i recently bought this car last summer. i am currently in the process of taking the floors out to replace them. when i went to go start it up it made a really loud scratchy noise. I pulled the starter out to find it cracked with the cylonoide half falling off. the problem is this is a rebuilt motor. the starter in there now is from the original motor or something. the guy pub a shim in it the size of about an 3/16 of an inch. WOW i was shocked. it must have been in there to position it right with the fly wheel. the fly wheel didnt look damaged. i spun it around and the teeth are ok. the problem is do i take a starter made for a 400 cast code 3951509 and put it in it or use the smaller starter the guy before had in it? I had no problem starting it for 3 months and now i need to get it running. Also, i am unsure wither a bigger starter will fit in it as the one now is about a half inch from the oil pan and exhaust 2inch below that. Cast 3951509 but i dont know if trans is stock or not its a 5spd... Any suggestions?

hi there well ok we need ot knwo what size flywheel or flexplate you have on the engine and what starter nose you have right now

it is either going to be the 153 tooth 12" one, or the 168 tooth 14" one

the nose cone will either be straight across bolts or staggered bolts


staggered= 168 tooth
straight= 153

do not need shims with a nose that has not been modified.milled down

1/8" is what you want to see from the starter gear shaft to the outside edge of the flywheel or plate teeth

being a 400 engine has nothing to do with it

400 does not have its own special starter, they are the same as any other v-8 chevy
and yes i own a 400sbc engine i pulled it out of my truck tonight actually, pics soon, it is the same 509 casting as yours, very common 2 bolt

good luck