hey guys i need help. i dont have the right starter on my car, but i cant get the right one, because my car doesnt have the original 305, but it has some 350 in it. and i dont know what its from, the car is an 89 formula, and the engine is something that i dont know. the only numbers i could find on the block was...
it either said
638 or if that was upsidedown it was
BE9 or
8E9
i need to find the numbers if those arent right. so if anyone has anyhelp

thanks

 

It's a 350, probably out of a truck... but that doesn't really matter

Exactly how does the starter not fit? If it seems like it hits the ring gear ont eh flex plate before the bolts line up, then the motor has the 14" flex plate on it, and you need a starter with part # 3510-S. If it's the other way, such that the starter seems like it's too far from the flex plate and never touches the ring gear, then you need the 305 starter.

 

well if you are, say, directly uderneath it, it moves side to side, there is play, you can loosen the bolts and it can kinda engage and disengage, and i dont think thats how they are supposed to be, its like the bolts are too small for the holes on the starter, and not the engine. is this normal.

?

 

Sounds like you have the wrong bolts.

Starter bolts are special. Go to the store and get the right thing. Sounds to me like you have just a bunch of generic bolts without the special starter feature.