I'm putting a 400 chevy in my 87 Trans Am and can't get the starter to fit, I'm running Hedman shorties and a 168 tooth flywheel

the solenoid on the 400 starter hits the headers just above the collector so I figured if I got a mini starter that would solve the problem but then I searched about it on here and found that other people bought mini starters and they still didn't work, I also read a thread about using a late model 454 starter?? Wouldn't the 454 have a 153 tooth flywheel which would make it not work with the 168 tooth that I have??

So I was wondering what you guys think my best bet would be for a starter? Do you think if I get a mini starter that is adjustable and reclock it that it will work?

PS my block already has all 3 starter holes in it

 

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/produc...o=71&redirect=


get this plate and a 153 tooth flywheel and a starter for it.

 

I really dont dont want to pull the engine again unless I absolutely have to

 

I don't recall hearing that minis don't clear, but I haven't searched, either.

A rotatable body mini should do the job.

 

Heres the post where Z28 DUDE said that a mini won't clear with shorty headers that have a 3 inch collector (which is exactly what I have) and he had to run a late model 454 starter

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=277883

another guy said he used an LT1 starter, is that compatible with the 168 teeth flywheel?

Before I buy anything I just want to make sure I won't get stuck with something that doesn't fit

thanks for any help

 

I wouldn't put too much stock in the "shorty headers that have a 3 inch collector" statement. Unless you have exacty the same brand and type headers he had, most likely there isn't any correlation.

I can't say one way or another whether late model 454's have 153 tooth flexplate/flywheels. My guess would be that they would have 168 tooth.

Does your block have 2 or 3 starter mount holes? I was pleasantly surprised to discover my 1966 396 block had all three.

 

I have a set of Hedman shorties with a 3" collector on my LT1 which the block style is similar to the 400 running the stock LT1 starter which is way smaller than a standard 350 and have no clearance issues with the starter at all, and wouldn't with the huge 350/400 starter.

 

just thought I'd let everyone know I looked it up and the newer 454's have a 168 tooth flywheel so I got a starter for a 97 c3500 454, it's really little and works great!

 

Good to hear. I just tried fitting a CVR Protorque mini starter and yes the solenoid is too big and hits right above the collector like you said. And even with the rotatable mounting plate there's no other position that even comes close to fitting either. On my way to get a 454 starter now...

On a side note I did have an '89 S10 starter motor(Staggered) in there before and it fits perfect but died with less than 60 minutes of runtime. I guess a heat shield is in order.