hey guys. i tried using the 305 starter and that bolt hole didnt line up. so i went to auto zone and bought a new starter for a 70's 350 and these holes dont line up either. i only have tonight to get this finished inside before it has to be out of the garage. can someone tell me what starter i need.

70's 350 block with an 87 t-5 trans. 153 tooth flywheel

 

As I've posted over and over again, you need to have the inner hole, closer to the crank, added to that block. The earlier blocks didn't come with it.

You have the correct flywheel and starter; you're only missing that hole in the block. When those blocks were made there was no such thing as a 350 with a small flywheel, so they didn't put the bolt hole in it for it. No "features from the future".

There is no magic starter that will work. Look at the starter drive shaft, look at where it has to go in order to mate to the ring gear on the flywheel, and imagine a bolt going through any starter with its shaft in that position. It's not too hard to see that the bolt would have to go RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE of the starter drive. So don't fall for the drivel about what starter "ought to" work, because it won't.

Once you install the bolt hole, then any starter that will work on any motor that uses the small flywheel, will work. You can use the stock one for one of these cars (at least until you get tired of dealing with what a pathetically weak POS it is), or the LT1 starter, or any of the aftermarket mini-starters.

 

well then. that would explain it. i guess im gonna have to get someone to drill the hole for me. how hard do ya think its gonna be to do that?

 

Not very. Your local machine shop whould be able to knock it right out.

Assuming of course, that the block is not assembled, or at least not installed in a car.

 

I did it without drilling the block. Summit has a Powermaster starter that will work, their part number is PWM-9600, runs 149.95 plus shipping. This starter has about 15 different ways it can be mounted by moving and pivoting the starter's location on the mounting block. I got it to work on my late 70's block for my 383 with the small 153 tooth flywheel on my T-5. Don't bother with the 95 or so Z28 hi-torque starters - I tore up 3 of them in less than 20 minutes before buying this one from Summit.

Hope this helps. Have a Great Day!


- Vern

 

ok well i did a little investigatgin yesterday and it turns out that this engine came out of a 74 police crusier, or at least a car with the police options. shoudl this make any difference with the starter?


Vern: im prolyl gonna end up buying that starter from summit, how hard was it to put into your car?

 

Not bad at all, just had to play with the various mounting/clocking positions on the plate to get it to line up with the holes on the block and to engage the flywheel. Just some Allen screws mount the plate to the starter itself, so no big deal. Took 20 minutes to do it all, including having to repair one wire in the harness that had gotten burned. Wires are on the side instead of the end, may be a little tight on some harnesses but we managed the change just fine. Good Luck!!!!