Hi guys from the UK, hope I'm posting in the right place, rarely i post on forums, I'm usually a spectator

So I have a truck 350sbc in an 1982 Trans Am mounted to a th350 168 flywheel large bell housing trans. The OE starter is a staggered bolt pattern.

Anyway I bought a new cheap 'ebay special' Mini starter motor (parallel bolt pattern) as ive fitted new headers and need clearence, the starter was advertised as 153 or 168 tooth compatible. Problem is although it bolts up ok the pinion/gear is apx 1/4 misaligned. In other words if i was to try engage the starter the pinion gear would smash into the flywheel and not engage. Am I being stupid? Can't see how shimming would help as this would technucally move the starter forward or backwards and I need it to move left/right to clear. Headache

 

The starter you bought is intended for a different "not staggered" bolt pattern. There are 2 different in-line patterns, and it's set up for the later-model one, whereas your block evidently has the earlier-model one.

Get a starter that's designed for the staggered (T-350 & T-400) bolt pattern. Or, get a 12.8" wheel and put that on your motor, and get rid of the 14" (168 tooth) one, Which might be the better solution, as that allows the starter to mount about 5/8" inboard of the one for the 14" wheel, which gives you just that much more clearance to things like ... headers.

 

Thanks sofakingdom. The only reason I bought the straight bolt pattern is because I read they are interchangeable with the staggered bolt pattern. Clearly that wasnt good advise and totally incorrect. Not the end of the world tho. I'll buy the right one this time with staggered bolts. Next time I pull the motor ill swap out the flywheel for a 'normal size' one haha

 

Not that it's not "good advice"; more, that it's a matter of what's in the fine print. Details matter sometimes.

There's not really a single "normal size" for flywheels. There's 2 "normal sizes". You have one, your starter is intended for the other. You just either need the other, or a starter for your particular normal size. Don't look at it like you've got something "weird", rather, you just mis-identified it.

 

Absolutely... main thing is the problem is identified... alot easier for the time being to throw on a staggered starter due to work commitments... thanks again

 

Just trying to keep the outlook positive and constructive.