OK I have read the t56 swap thread but still have a few questions. I have a 89 GTA 350TPI with a 700R4 and putting in a T56. I read the stock auto starter is for 153 tooth. The clutch kit for the LT1 T56 is 11" diameter and the flywheel I keep finding on JEGS.com are 168 tooth for 11", the 153 tooth ones are only 10.4" diameteter clutch not 11", so do I need a new starter even though I read on here the stock one should work? so I am confused now. Also do I need zero-balanced flywheel? Can someone please advise?

 

I do know that the starter has to match the flywheel teeth, so if you have to use a 168 tooth flywheel, then you'll need a new starter. If that's the case, might as well get a nice aftermarket mini-torque starter, most will do either tooth pattern - I got mine off ebay for under $90 shipped, reman local auto parts store stock starter was $79 I think - makes sense to spend a few bucks more and get a mini-torque that's 1/3 the weight, 1/2 the size, and will start twice the motor!

 

Every thread I've read online says that it's 153 tooth is that correct? So if I went with 153 tooth lt1 t56 flywheel would that work with my original starter?

 

If your using the LT1 bellhousing, then you have to use a 153 tooth flywheel. A 168 tooth will not fit. If your motor is a 1 piece rear main block, then you need a regular LT1 flywheel and clutch. You can't use a regular flywheel with the LT1 clutch. If you have a 2 piece rear main, they make flywheels specifically for this swap.

 

OK got it thanks. Now does anyone know if my starter will work with the LT1 flywheel?

 

The 305 starters fit in the LT1 bellhousing.
The 350 starters do not. Both are for a 153 tooth flywheel.
Search my name and starter and you'll find pics of this.

In addition to the stock 305 starters,
A 93-97 F-body LT1 starter will work.
So will a late 80s - 96 Vette starter.

 

This makes no sense. Starter is same on 350 and 305 - starter does not know what motor it's attached to, and 350 blocks and 305 blocks are identical externally. The only difference between SBC starters is the spacing of the bolt holes (inline or staggered) to fit the two flexplate sizes (153 or 168). This is why the aftermarket mini-torque starters can attach to either, they have all the holes drilled for either combination of bolts.

 

I read somewhere I can grind down my stock starter so it fits in the bellhousing? Is this true? and are you sure both 305 and 350 starters are 153-tooth?

 

Never heard of grinding down anything. It's a simple matter of bolt hole design.

The only difference in SBC starters is the bolt holes - different bolt hole pattern for different flywheels. If a starter has the bolt holes for a 153 tooth flywheel, then it can only be used on a 153 tooth flywheel - makes no difference if it's a 305 or a 350. All 3rd gen F-body cars were factory equipped with 153 tooth flywheels, whether 305 or 350. The 153 tooth flywheel fits inside the T5 housing, the 168 does not - some 305's were mated with T5's instead of 700R4's - thus the General used the smaller flywheel on all these cars so that they didnt have to have 2 seperate parts in the production line.

Most aftermarket starters have provisions for both flywheels - it's a simple matter of having a different shape starter (has a mounting block rather than that round-nosed shape) - the mounting block enables them to have both bolt hole combinations, so that the same starter can be used regardless of the flywheel - it just gets mounted using the closer holes for the smaller flywheel and mounted using the farther holes for the larger flywheel.

Don't know which is cheaper, flywheel or starter. But flywheel has to fit in the tranny, so that's the first consideration - get the flywheel that works with the tranny. Then get the right starter for the flywheel (or an aftermarket mini-torque that works with either).

 

I used my 305 flywheel and starter for my swap and it works great. A 305 starter is physically smaller than a 350 starter. I use a 305 starter because it fits better with my headers

 

Some answers here i just dont get!


Definately use the flywheel from the Lt1 and the starter,the Lt1 starter is very small and gear reduction.

 

Exactly. Here are pics for those who can't read: https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/post...944-post5.html

A 350 starter cannot be ground down to fit the LT1 T56 bellhousing.

 

Screw a bunch of grinding. Or for that matter, any other kind of WORK. That stuff SUCKS.

All you need is the STOCK LT1 flywheel and starter. If you just really want to know for some random unaccountable reason, the stock LT1 flywheel is 12.8", and therefore has 153 teeth. Not that you'll need that for anything, since it's the stock part you can get at the junkyard; but just in case someone tries to screw you and give you the wrong thing, maybe. But since NO OTHER flywheel will work with the LT1 T-56 clutch besides a LT1 one, except for $$$$$$$aftermarket$$$$$$$$$ ones, it won't be too hard to figure out if you accidentally wander into $$$$$$$$$ territory instead of STOCK.

An auto starter will generally not fit into a manual BH. Has nothing to do with 305 or 350, except of course that no 350s came with manuals; and since manual starters fit auto BHs but no vice-versa, ALOT of replacement auto starters such as you would buy at the parts store have manual noses regardless of whether they're being sold as "auto" or "manual" ones. The mere fact that you unbolted it from an auto car doesn't necessarily mean it's an auto starter.

I don't think you can grind it that far reliably; some maybe, not 100%, without destroying it. Again, screw all that WORK (there's that nasty 4-letter word keeps popping up, I'll probably get banned for using it so much) and just get a STOCK LT1 starter to go with the STOCK LT1 flywheel. Too easy that way. Just get the right stuff and bolt it up and drive it.