Hi, the starter in my 86 z28 (it was swapped for a 1970 5.7) was bad so i took it to autozone to pick up a new one. But when i tried installing it it wouldnt fit. I then returned it and tried another one, but the gap between the gears was slightly too large and doesnt fully engage. I dont want to spend the next year trying out different starters so how can i identify the correct one??

 

OK... So what's probably happening is your starter doesn't match the flywheel.

The 86 originally would have been a 153 tooth flywheel, and 86 was the first year for a 1pc rear main seal. The 86 flywheel won't bolt to a 85-earlier crankshaft, so it wouldn't bolt onto a 1970 V8. An 82-85 Camaro V8 153T flywheel, and the stock replacement 86 starter should play well together. However, your 1970 block might not be drilled for the later starter. Generally speaking, starters for 153T flywheels have the mounting bolts straight across from each other, and starters for 168T flywheels have the starter bolts staggered. Some blocks are drilled for both starter patterns (3 holes), and some are only drilled for one pattern. So you might have to use a 168T flywheel, and a starter that matches that flywheel.

 

Okay thanks, ill pick up a 153 tooth starter and see if that fixes the problem. Im sure autozones gonna appreciate me returning a starter for the third time lol. And thankfully my block is drilled for both setups.