need help darksiders.....
anyone had any problems getting a starter to fit a 350sbc/400turbo combo..
had a 350 turbo,blew it up....put the 400 in and can't get the starter to fit.
the bendix shaft is hitting the flexplate towards the top and won't allow the starter to bolt in place...... is a 400 flexplate the same dimensions as a 350 flexplate..........51f1 350sbc/t400/9in ford/ torsion bar front end.....

tks,ashlandcat

 

Hey man, did you change the flywheel when you changed the tranny? Are you using the same starter? The reason I ask is GM made 2 different flywheels and 2 different starters. One starter has straight across bolt pattern on the starter and the other is staggered, I cant remember off the top of my head which is which, but it DOES make a difference which combo you use. If you changed the flywheel when you changed the tranny, you'l have to change the starters or change back the flywheels. I'm almost positive that both the 350's and 400's have the same 3 bolt pattern on the torque convertor setup? I'm pretty sure, having said that you might want to change back your flywheel. Also, whatever you do NEVER go to autozone for a starter EVER. Their noses are not made very well and almost always have shiming issues and sound terrible cranking over.


Without knowing what you've done exactly, causes alot of speculation on our part, so you need to post a little more info.

 

tks, truxx for your reply....
i changed the flywheel, tranny and did not change the starter....
the bolt pattern is straight across on the starter....and also on the transmission.....the flywheel and tranny were given to me, so i assumed that they were matched....and honestly did not check until now..
the torque converter connected right up, with no problems. but..the
flywheel won't allow the starter to connect up....when it gets within an inch from the top, the flywheel hits the bedix shaft.....
i did see a starter with the bolt pattern off set like you mention, but didn't think it would bolt up to the pattern on the transmission..
so i guess the best thing is to pull the tranny back out and change the flywheel....again....appreciate your info and help.....ashlandcat

 

Hey Landcat welcome. Did you say you had 350/350. Turbo 400 uses diffrent holes in flex plate than350. Most 400t were either big-block or 400ci. 400ci was externaly balanced, ie different flexplate (and balancer)than 350ci. I've seen the 2 diffrent bolt locations but never seen the differece in nose-cones (never had a reason to look). In my past life I had a 4x4 Ch@#y that floated mains, long story short built stroker using correct flexplate for 400ci engine and used same starter as 350ci. motor still works fine, I had side-by-side bolts not diagnal. Brand "C" V-8's from laate 60's to present(I thing) all had same bolt pattern bellhousing. Good luck Kurt G. Y-blocks rule.

 

hey kurt...tks...

i had a 350/350.....everything fine.....changed to 350/ 400 tranny and the flywheel that was with it....(not sure if it was a 400 or 350)..but it did bolt up and the torque converter bolted up.....problems came when i went to put the starter on...i have the starter that was bolted to the 350/350.....its almost like the flywheekl is too large.....i've tried the large and small starters with the straight across bolt pattern....same clearance problems.....guess i'll pull it back down and check/change the flywheel......never seen this happen before..i've interchanged chevrolet starters in all kind of cars...didn't know there was a difference....guess i've learned something new.....although would've prefered too have learned before putting it together....
again....tks, ashlandcat

 

Hey man, something else you might not know. The 400's have a really big yoke on the tailshaft, so if it really is a 400, you'll have to have the correct yoke for that. They also made a 375 turbo and it was basicly a 400 with a 350 tailshaft. You might want to try some different starters before changing flywheels? Just a thought. If you get the correct starter, it will work. Ask the guy you got the trans from which way the starter holes were oriented?


Later

 

You don't need to completley pull the tranny to change the flywheel.

Here's what I used to do back in my wrenching days. Get yourself some longer bolts for the tranny. Pull all the bellhousing bolts, install a couple of the longer bolts. remove flywheel to torque converter bolts, Pull the driveshaft loose at the diff, pull the tranny mount bolts, slide tranny back a couple of inches (longer bolts are there to keep it from sliding back too far). Now you can snake a long wrench into the gap and remove the flywheel to crankshaft bolts and drop the flywheel out.

Bobby

 

truxx,
it appears to be a 400..big tail shaft..plus its got the 13 bolt odd shaped pan..
the driveshaft's in and hooked up....
so you think there is a starter that will fit this thing..gonna try to make a call and find out how the starter was sit up before.....
was very close to having this thing back together and ready to hit the streets...not looking forward to pulling it back down......
but...hey...thats what we love about these old things.....tks,ashlandcat

 

Sooo what would a new starter cost, you know one for a turbo 400? But Im sure you thought of that already. Maybe check with wreckin yards ect. Just a thought. Kurt G. Y-blocks rule.

 

kurt,
cost of the starter not the problem......finding one to fit is.....
i've tried 4 diffrent starters none have fit...and these came from
o'reilly's, auto zone,pep boys and a local.......they all keep giving me the
same type with the diagonal bolts....i'm trying to see if the one with the
off set pattern will fit....
if that doesn't work, then i pull the flexplate and go from there.....
but, its been a good learning experience.....tks, ashlandcat

 

First of all one of your problems is you're goin to the worst places around for a starter, you need to go to a Napa or a Fischer's. Second you need to tell them you need an old style starter for the big flywheel with the straight across pattern. That will fix your problem. The discount parts houses are bad about getting their parts from Mexico, and China which means JUNK!! They don't fit properly or work properly at all!! Have you asked the person you got the trans from about the starter that was on it? I know it don't bolt to the trans like a Ford, but if your'e using the flywheel, thats' the starter you need.

 

now, now.. everybody is getting the same stuff from the same few vendors.
His problem is that this is not 'in the computer'.. And the younger dweebs at the counter don't know what to do when its not in the computer. They don't know the parts themselves..

they don't know old from new, big from small, or any bolt pattern.

Sam

 

tks again trux...
will be at napa tomorrow.....
nice looking 56 you have......see you live in litchfield.....i'm up here in
louuuuuueeeeeeevul....
again..appreciate the help.....ashandcatl

 

Anytime man, anytime.

 

Just another thing on the whole starter issue, When you finally get the right combination and you are bolting it all together do not forget the small strap that bolts between the end of the starter and the engine block. This little bracket is often thrown away, don't do it, its there for a reason. It gives the starter some extra support and prevents the starter mountin gear on the block from cracking or breaking off.

Bobby