All over Google there are threads on this issue but no resolution! I've had so many issues with this swap its ridiculous! The issue is the starter is too far away from the flex plate. Its close enough to grab but sounds awful and doesn't grab right. Sometimes I'll look underneath and the
teeth will actually be on top of eachother. The plate is on right and it is a 400 flex plate but I can't get it to be close enough to the pin the gear is connected to. The only thing is the new starter I got didn't come with bolts so I used the ones from the old 400 starter. I have no more money and can't afford to get more parts such as a mini starter. If I could just get the starter over about a half inch it should be fixed! Any help will be much appreciated!

 

You can't just "move the starter over"; the inner bolt would then have to go RIGHT DIRECTLY THROUGH THE MIDDLE of the moving parts of the starter.

Your only option is to drill the missing hole in the 400 block. This hole was introduced in about 77 or so, and so most 400s don't have it.



You need to take the block to the machine shop BEFORE you install it, and have them drill the circled hole. It's a special hole and its EXACT location is critical. I can't imagine being able to attain the required precision while laying on the ground underneath the car.

I have posted this SO MANY TIMES that people are probably getting tired of seeing it. A quick search on here for phrases like "400 starter" would have told you all you need to know. Along with, every other detail you probably have been struggling with. It's all here.

Yes I have this swap; the first time, over 20 years ago.

 

My block does have to other hole option, I had my 305 starter with the 305 flex plate installed before I learned the hard way that 400s are exterally balanced. The bolt pattern on the starter I have now is the style that is crossed as oppose to side by side. So do I need a 400 starter that has the side by side set up?

 

If you have a 14" flywheel/flex plate on there now, with the correct balance for the 400, then you need the 262.5/283/302/307/327/350/400 starter that was on basically everything from the mid 60s up through the late 70s.

That would be, part # 3510-S. Just ask for that at the parts store. That's the one that fits the 400. Or, if you want a cast-iron one instead of aluminum, you can shoot for part # 3560-S; but those aren't near as common. Time was, you could be walking down the street, and there'd literally be 3510-Ss laying in the gutter. They're not as common any more but still pretty plentiful.

 

Ok, sorry if I misunderstand but is that a starter with the bolts directly accross from eachother, because like I said I have a 400 starter. The one that I had already was a 350 starter that was closer to the flex plate because it was a smaller one. Make sense? I just need the dang thing about a half inch closer!

 

No the 3510-S is a "staggered" pattern starter. And yes, it is considerably larger, physically. Just as weak, but bigger and heavier.

Try it and see if it works.

Make sure you use REAL starter bolts; they're different from just regular bolts. They have special places made onto them to postively accurately locate the starter on the block. Ask about em at the parts store and they'll hook you up. Doubt they'll take up a half-inch of slack; but who knows.

 

Ok! Now I think I'm getting somewhere! The starter I have does have a staggared bolt pattern but the bolts I don't think are correct. I will get the right bolts for this starter because they didn't come with and I think it will help. It wasn't quite half an inch more like a quarter, sorry for the confusion, and thanks a lot!

 

put a starter from a 96-98 truck mini starter. Life time warranty plenty of torque to turn my motor over.

 

i have a starter for a 1985 350. will it work with a 400 engine?

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/RAY2465022
would i have to change flywheel? will it fit? work? etc.?

 

Instead of hitting up dead threads with multiple posts. Stick to one thread for better answer results.