Hey all, I am currently in the midst of my v6 to v8 swap in my 85 bird. I got the ol 2.8 out and took the starter off for a core on my new starter. I was noticing that it has the same mounting points/bolts and fits almost perfectly on my 355. Will my 2.8 starter work with my 355 and 153 tooth flywheel? Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks for the help. -Bob

 

I don't think so. Do you have a knowledgeable dealer parts guy that you can call?

 

I am a tech at a ford dealership and there is a chevy dealership like 3 blocks down, ill have the parts guys call and ask about it. I was thinking that it could be the same starter but maybe it has different terminal arrangements, so it would have a different part number. If that is the case i was thinking i could modify the cables to work with the starter.

 

terminals shouldn't be an issue, it will be the tooth count on the flywheel that makes the difference. Might just want to go down to a parts store & compare them to each other, worse case scenario, count the teeth on the 2.8.

 

Just check the part numbers. If it is the same p/n (and I am 99% certain it is not because that 2.8 is metric), they are interchangeable. I wanted one of those fancy chrome starter for my 2.8. IIRC, and it has been a long time, the guy at the dealer (who was sharp) said the sbc chrome starter would not work on a 2.8.

 

go to parts store ask for both starters and count the teeth on each, if the same go for it.

if the v8 one is longer it may have a different starter motor that has more torqe to turnover the more rotating mass

try it, if its not enough no harm, if it is thats money in your pokect.

 

I might as well buy a V8 one if the starting torque is more anyways. Damn, i was hoping that they were the same size, now i have to wait a couple more days to get a starter so that i can start my new engine! A reman 153 tooth starter is like $50 anyways, oh well big loss. Thanks guys

 

The 2.8 starter motor will be overloaded trying to crank and engine double the discplacement. This will cause high current draw and low cranking speed, and probably drain your battery quicker than if you had a larger starter motor. The high current draw will make short work of the 2.8 starter motor and you'll be replacing it again. Use the larger starter motor intended for the 305 engine.