For years I have had a problem with my starter bolt's loosening I have re threset it to a to a larger bolt and then 2 years later another issue and I used a lot type this last time and another year and a half 22 years loose again this has happened 8 times in the past I used to just tighten them every couple of years when this problem would happen now I have noticed with more light that there is a flash sticking out to the edge with a bolt hole threaded small of course but There is nothing that matches up and when I went to autozone all starters are the 2 bolt type has anyone had these issues of the 7.3 bolt holes loosening overtime and what the hell is the extra section of land with the created hole If it was not meant for a wider flash starter seems to make sense that Ford needed a 3 whole flash to begin with for this starter as it always pulls on the 2 bolts from the weight at the front my next step is to just get a strap I guess that would hold the front taught.

 

There are three bolt starters for the 7.3s.

 

I have never had an issue...
Lock Washer and torqued to spec.

 

Both mine are 2000 year model and have the three bolt. My son in laws is a 2002 and has the 2 bolt.

 

WOW...Ok thanks guys. I called the parts store before this and had the guy pull one it was 2 bolts he only showed 2 bolts for the f250 so I was thinking it was right. When I bought the one I have now at Autozone they sold me the 2 bolt never asked about 2 or 3 bolt. Funny thing is I bought the truck in 2006 at 3 years old and It had the 2 bolt cuz I remember it loosened and I tightened it then in 2008 it fell completely to the ground in a parking lot and My helper that worked with me, rethreaded to larger bolts as the threads couldn't be chased. A few months later the starter caught fire at a gas station in West palm Beach Fl. So I knew then it must have been damaged when it hit the ground and had a short....had to take a cab to a extended hour Autozone ended up with a 2 bolt.....Messed up I never got this figured out and have been using the wrong starter for 18 years...cuz Autozone only has 2 bolt starters listed for it and I've had this one for years. I remember asking the person the last time I bought one if that was the right starter for the truck and there was a yes when we check I'll have to Discuss this with autozone

 

There are both 2 bolt and 3 bolt starters for the 7.3L and either will mount up and function as intended if installed properly.

• OEM bolts had split lock washers on them, did you use this method?
• Did you torque the bolts to the appropriate specifications? Despite having modified the mounting hardware.
• You mentioned larger bolts, what about the length? Do the go all the way into the transmission case like they did from the factory?
• Some use blue loctite or similar products, but this should not be needed if the starter is installed properly with the proper fasteners.