Hello. I am having a heck of a time finding the right length starter bolts for my trans am. The shorter bolt that was on the original engine was a stud with about 1/2" to 3/4" of washers stacked on it. that can't be right, well unless something is missing. the longer bolt was standard as far as I can tell. No starter bolts I own or can find online are short enough. Can anyone direct me to were to by the right starter bolts? thanks

 

Go to your local parts store and LOOK AT the bolts hanging on the Help! cards. The right ones are available that way.

Starter bolts are special. They have a short thread and a larger diameter section just behind the threads that acts like a dowel pin to positively locate the starter in its exact right spot.

 

That you for replying. Yes i am aware that starter bolts are a special type of bolt, which is why i am being cateful. I did buy a dorman set of starter bolts that are supposed to be for a small block chevy, but they seem a bit too long. I will see if a washer will take care of that.

 

There are several starters that fit small block Chevy. They don't all use the same bolts. For that matter, some of those starters also fit big block Chevy, and various 6-cyl Chevys as well. "Looking up" that way isn't going to get you what you need.

Best thing to do is measure the depth of the through-holes in the starter, and look for bolts such that the center of the little "dowel pin" section is at that length from the head. Shouldn't be a problem to find at all. All you need is a tape measure and an eyeball on what's in the package. LOOK AT them physically (not surf the Net) and choose the ones that measure right.

 

Auto zone had the same dorman bolts I had and nothing else for GM. 3/8-16 4 5/8" and 1 7/8". both are about 3/8" too long when snugged down. They did not have any SBC starters in stock for me to compare what I have too. So I have one ordered that includes bolts. They said I can inspect it and if I want it pay if not they will just keep it in inventory.

The goofy hardware the previous owner had on the starter makes me think it might be meant for something else. i don't know. I was not expecting to pay $130 for a starter, but looks like I might be lol

 

​​​​​​​Also not impossible...

 

First starter from autozone was open box missing the bolts. They had to back order one. It got in today. The bolts are right. They are shorter and the nureled section is tapered so it fits the block. And the starter is about half the size and weight.

 

I have an '84 Trans Am 305. The connections on your solenoid have an extra post. My solenoid has only one post.
Why would u require knurling on the bolts?

 

Covered previously.

Been covered repeatedly. Especially when people hook up their purple wire to the "easier" post to get to, and then post up on here wondering either why their starter doesn't work or their wiring and ign sw burned up. The extra post is for cars with points ignition systems. It bypasses the ballast resistor during starting. Isn't needed in cars w electronic ignition. Saves the mfr the trouble of making 2 different solenoids, and managing getting them onto the right starters, and supporting 2 different part #s for the same starter with ddifferent solenoids, and having 2 stocking numbers at parts stores for starters such as 3510 that fit vehicles from the mid 60s up to the 2000s butt have the different ignitions, and people with older cars accidentally getting a starter that won't hook up to their wiring, and all that sort of monkey-spank.