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Was wondering if you could help me out as well. I am looking for clarification seeing you were able to decode the prior truck with similar specs. I am also thinking this is a 391 4v xd ft engine. I am also looking to replace the starter with a refurbished unit from napa parts. I purchased one recently and it seemed to hit the back of the bell housing and did not mount. I was hoping for your expertise and guidance. I am obviously getting something wrong.
Very appreciated
**** After some more research I came across the Part #: RAY 2444900 from napa where I bought the last one. Hopefully this will the correct one!?!
Last edited by Kellthomps; May 7, 2026 at 07:07 PM.
As to the starter, I checked NAPA on line and using the "Medium/heavy" vehicle selection, looked for a starter. I couldn't get one to come up.
This thread has the Ford numbers and other info about the starters. You should be able to get one at NAPA as they are the SAME for the FT engines for the entire run. The FE starter also works.
As to the starter, I checked NAPA on line and using the "Medium/heavy" vehicle selection, looked for a starter. I couldn't get one to come up.
This thread has the Ford numbers and other info about the starters. You should be able to get one at NAPA as they are the SAME for the FT engines for the entire run. The FE starter also works.
I am still having trouble aquiring a starter that does not hit the back of the bell housing. Anyone have a similar setup that can provide the specs on a starter that will fit?
Your second picture in your first post appears to be an accelerator return spring bracket (9741)?
Starters are engineering number 11002:
There are six pages of starters in the MPC! There's a serial number breakpoint for 1977 and yours falls "after" it, but it doesn't really matter, because as Bill said in the previously referenced post, all the FT variant part numbers for all years 73/79 eventually are replaced by Motorcraft SA-713 (SA-713-A). Replacement starters may have a side terminal instead of a rear terminal.
There's no callout for MT vs AT transmissions. But! There were several earlier part numbers for FT starters, so an early starter might not quite look the same as a later one, etc. In 2019, Bill later restated:
That's a pile of starters that should fit. In that same thread, Ed posted a link that seems to support that 390 FE starter '65+ should also fit. I once looked up some starter differences FE vs FT and found a one-tooth-count different between a couple of models (9 vs 10 IIRC) but they bolt in and work anyway.
If you're experiencing an interference when installing the starter, you may not have a starter issue.
Were you or are you able to compare the old starter to the new one?
Were there any shims or spacers?
Does this engine use a Ford cast iron bell housing or adapter?
Sorry, grasping at straws......
The truck had been sitting for the past 8 years. The starter was taken for unknown reasons. Do not have one to compare. I would assume it is the standard ford bell housing , unshimmed though shallow. Several starters I have tried hit the back of the housing.
Last edited by Kellthomps; May 11, 2026 at 12:03 PM.
I have tried two that resembled the former, having the shaft bearing cowling. Though I am thinking it needs to be more like the latter with the exception of the added hardware after the drive gear. I was thinking that it would look more like one of these high torque starters. I just would like to get the exact one needed instead of the buy / try / return game I have been doing.🤪 Again i appreciate your info.
2-bolt flange should be the correct style. That older 3-bolt flange looks like . . . Y-block? Yeah, OK, I read down the page, and it fits a lot of old Ford iron, but it should not bolt up to an FT bellhousing, which has two bolt holes.
Originally Posted by Kellthomps
I just would like to get the exact one needed instead of the buy / try / return game I have been doing.
I don't think you're going to get more/better information than provided above: from the info you gave us, the most common Ford inertia-style starter is supposed to fit. Maybe you could give us more? From what I understand, there has not been a starter installed for ~8 years. Can you take a couple of good pictures of the bellhousing's starter aperture, and use a flashlight (not the camera flash) to illuminate its interior for a second picture? If the pictures are blurry, they're useless.
Do you know any history of this truck?
In 50 years, a lot could have happened to this truck. I have seen some wild alterations on things I have had to repair, and I have done some wild alterations on rigs I've owned and then sold*, and I know that going by "this is what should fit" isn't helpful when it doesn't. Which makes it likely that you have a non-stock situation. You can either keep buying/trying/returning starters, or seek help beyond part numbers for the starter it came with in 1977. Pics would help.
* = I pity the person who rebuilds a certain Corvair 140HP (4-carb) engine I owned, when they discover an M12 Helicoil in a bellhousing mount, because I owned an M12 Helicoil set in 1985 (which I purchased ~1976 to repair a split-window VW Transporter's axle gear reduction box) but could not afford a 7/16" or 1/2" set, so I repaired the engine in the way I could at the time. Anyone coming along behind me would curse me.
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