Hey guys, I tried searching, but found no real info...

I have one of the Summit racing Pro torque mini starters, and with my Hooker longtubes, I have about .030 of clearance between the two. Turns out, the starter isn't as "mini" as I had in mind when I bought it.
Anyway, has anyone used any header spacers (between the head and exhaust flange) to space the header away from the starter? I found some on the internet; I should be able to put 1/2" spacers on both sides of the engine and still have plenty of clearance. Other than this, the headers fit great. This is a street strip car with a BMR K Member and 355 in it, and exhaust attachment is not a concern because I haven't built it yet. Any help is appreciated.

 

What size flywheel are you using?

 

It's a 168 tooth flexplate.

 

There's your problem.

 

I had to buy the jegs mini with my long tubes. Still no clearence. It barely fits in there

 

Obviously.

If my engine was balanced with a neutral balanced flexplate I would just put a smaller flexplate on it, but I don't have that option. Looks like I'll try the spacers out; seems to be a pretty common solution in the marine industry.

 

An average solid roller 355 is externally balanced? What did they do to that thing?

 

With respect to what?

The engine is exactly what it says it is -- your average (at least to me) one piece rear main seal 355, hence the externally balanced flexplate. Nothing too crazy- no power adders, dry sump, etc.

 

An average 1 piece RMS 355 has an internally balanced flexplate. The porkchop weight on it is just to move an irregular mass to the flexplate that was formerly on the crank hub in the 2 piece RMS era.

Or for those who insist on calling the 2 piece RMS engines externally balanced, your flexplate should still be balanced just the same as any other, unless your machinist did something dumb like alter the flexplate the balance the rotating assembly.

Just replace it for the smaller one.

 

168 tooth, long tubes and a Hitachi PSL100 starter, clearance for days. I had been running a "mini" starter from Napa which is why the one tube has a dent, it was very close to touching.

 

I was under the impression that the late model engines were considered to be neutral balance front, external balance rear due to the weight on the flexplate that replaced the small counterweight on the 2 piece rms engines.

It's good to know they make the flexplates for the late model engines in 153 tooth design; it's been a long time since I've looked at what is available, and I didn't know they existed.

Evilcartman, thanks for the picture, that is a world of difference compared to what I have.

 

Some people say it that way. Doesn't many any difference as long as everyone knows how it actually works.

Stock flywheels for thirdgens with 1 piece RMS engines are all 153 tooth.