Is there a starter that has a straight bolt pattern and will also match up with a 168 tooth flexplate and still fit in the stock location?

I'll tap a hole if one doesn't exist.

 

Nope. That's an age old problem for us. Just get a 153 tooth flywheel, and drill/tap the hole for that (if the block doesn't have it).

 

I'll just tap the existing hole and throw on a staggered pattern starter.
My mini wouldn't even touch the 153 when I originally had it on. Of course I was stupid enough to not check that when it was on the stand and easy to get to.

 

You have a staggered hole drilled but not tapped?
Ok, if you do that, then you need the bigger bellhousing (from a truck), which will then not fit your 3rd gen tranny tunnel.
It's very annoying to try to use a 168 tooth flywheel.

Wait, sorry, you said flexplate. That might be a different ballgame.

 

I have a buddy with a starter from a 93 Yukon. I'm going to size that up to see how it fits.

 

The mini starter I used to have was a straight dual bolt pattern for either a 153 or 168 tooth flexplate. You don't need another set of holes in your block, just a starter with both bolt patterns. I use a 168 tooth flexplate on my 82 Z with a 400 small block and I had to get a mini staggered bolt pattern starter to work on the 400, but yes a 168 tooth will fit. Hope this helps.

 

Watch your header clearance to the starter if you go 168. A lot of headers dont clear the starter when it is moved outwards to accomodate the 168 plate.

 

The mini that I currently have on there will not line up. It wouldn't line up on one of my other birds either. It wouldn't retract until the engine spun it into retraction.
I now have the Yukon starter (free). I'll be trial fitting it this weekend.

 

It's a wonderful life. A Yukon starter fits just fine. It even works.