So I got a good carbed 350 sbc. I have it mounted up to a nice 700r4 trans and the goal is to slide the whole mess into my 86 transam...I'm getting close, but the starter from the 305 doesn't mount up! Autozone lists the starter as a different part number between years! Everyone on here says its a dead even swap down to the accessory pulleys. What's the deal??? Please help!

 

seems either they gave you the wrong starter,or your putting it in wrong? what do you mean by doesnt "mount up"? the bolt holes dont match?

 

Did you go from a 153 tooth flexplate to a 168 tooth on the 350? I'm not sure if that would prevent the starter from fitting

 

SBC uses two different starters one with bolts staggered and one with bolts side beside. There are two flywheels also and a starter for each. If I remember correctly Staggered bolts holes are for 153 tooth flywheel.

 

Like Bassett said, there are 2 different bolt patterns for GM starters. Straight (typically for smaller 153 tooth flywheel/flexplate) and staggered (typically for larger 168 tooth flywheel/flexplate).

Most blocks are drilled for both bolt patterns, but not all.

 

Hey guys, thanks for the help! Here is the deal. It looks like the starter will mount up but the flywheel on the 350 is too big and in the way. With that said, does anyone know. A part number for a starter that fits with the bigger flywheel? Does this sound like the problem? There are 3 holes in the block and 2 side by side in the starer for mounting. This leads me to believe that the person who saidthe block is designed to handle two kinds of starters was right.

 

Obviously
As noted above ; you have the large 168 tooth flywheel and the small 153 tooth starter.
Get correct 168 tooth starter ( shown on right below )
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G1668/
or change the flywheel

 

The 153 tooth flywheel/flexplate is typically referred to as the "small" or the "305" sized one. Hint hint - That means it fits into the nice small bellhousings of the T5, / 700R4 meant for 3rd gen Camaros. The larger bellhousings do not fit in our tranny tunnel I believe.

You are forced re-use your 305 flexplate, your 305 starter, your 305 bellhousing.
The 305 starter (straight pattern, 153 tooth style), requires the right bolt holes. Older 350 blocks were not drilled for it. You may need to drill and tap. Be sure it's RIGHT ON THE MONEY or else you'll have starter problems down the line.

I think a certain couch-based member said it best before when I was in your shoes:
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/tech...s-starter.html

 

T700's only have one bellhousing size and will take both size flexplates. Problem arises with the smaller F-Body manual bellhousings which as you state used the 153 tooth flywheel.
GM obviously kept the 153 tooth configuration consistant across the F-Bodies even though they didn't need to with the auto cars

 

In regards to the old posts, if anybody is still looking for silicon bronze fasteners- Jamestown Distributing (a wooden boat and industrial supply house) has some silicon bronze stuff.

 

What ever happened to him, anyways. I haven't seen a post from him in months.

 

I dont know how many teeth are on my flywheel and the engine is in already. The guy that built the engine sent a new flywheel with it so can I assume it is right? and how do i know if i need to shim the starter, the new one i bought (because the 305 one wouldnt fit) came with 3 shims and a little metal rod (dowel?)

 

If it fit together when you installed the flywheel and starter, then it's the right one.

 

We do ; it is 14" 168 tooth

The "right" one is the one that fits the gearbox you have ; not the engine
As others have stated ,there are two available SBC flywheel /flexplate sizes.
14" 168 tooth and 12 3/4" 153 tooth