Want to purchase a starter, not sure how many teeth are on flexplate. The C6 is already bolted to the motor. How can tell without unbolting the transmission?

 

Probably the most accurate way would be to drop the starter (if it is still there), make a mark on one tooth and turn the engine over one time by hand, counting the teeth as they go by through the starter hole. If there's an inspection plate on at the bottom of the bellhousing, that would make counting even easier. Don't forget to remember if you counted the marked tooth or not. There's too many chances for error if you try to guess without knowing the exact application of your parts.

 

1969/96 351W: Two possible A/T flywheels, both have 164 teeth.

 

I was going to say 164. Doesn't the c6 have a removeable inspection plate on the block mid plate that should allow you to verify without removing even the starter? I believe it's just held in with 3 self tapping screws..

( as 52 Merc just said!)

Sorry 52 Merc, I didn't read your thread fully.

 

Here's the only spot I can see to count teeth. I'm assuming this is where I mount the starter too. ( probably a stupid question)

 

Here's the only spot I can see to count teeth. I'm assuming this is where I mount the starter too. ( probably a stupid question)

 

How many does it have?

 

Yes, that's the spot where the starter mounts.

 

Gonna count today. I work evenings so usually when I do my postings I'm at work. If I'm home, I usually have a "honey do" list a mile long

 

Trying to find the right starter for my 1969 Ford F-250 Camper Special w 1975 (I think) 390. was looking to get one of the mini-starters to get space for my headers. On some starters they say it works for 390, but my Truck doesn't show up in the models and some have listings of how many teeth are on the flywheel.

After I bought the Truck, the engine blew-up so I replaced the engine with another 390 I never knew if it came from a car or a truck I don't know, and I can vaguely remember maybe from a 1975. When we changed the engine we used the Flexplate and Tranny C6 that was in the truck when I bought it.

Will all the 390's use the same starter? Will my frame or crossmember get in the way of some starters? My main issue is that my starter died and I wanted to get one which would not touch the headers which are now (1/8) inch or less clearance.

 

The tooth count on the flexplate does not matter, the starter is the same for both the 157 and the 164.

 

The tooth count as already stated is 164 although the Torque converter offset is different between the C6 and the C4

 

As was mentioned, tooth count doesn't matter on the starter - but the transmission type does. There were some exceptions, but the general guideline with 2-bolt Ford starters is that automatic transmissions had one snout length and manual transmission used another. If you're looking for a small starter for header clearance, ask for one for a 1994 F-150 with a 5.0L and an automatic. It should fit and function with your 390 and C6 just fine and is the smallest OE starter available.

 

1963/76 FE (352/360/390/406/410/427/428) 3 mounting holes starter is the same .. A/T or M/T makes no difference, Passenger Car or F100/350 makes no difference.

1958/62 FE starter (also 3 mounting holes) uses the HUGE Bendix inertia starter drive.

C5AZ-6375-D .. A/T Flexplate / Obsolete

1965/67 F100/350 352 with MX Cruise-O-Matic; 1968/76 F100/350 360/390 C6.

1965/67 Passenger Car 352/390 with FX/MX Cruise-O-Matic; 1967/71 Passenger Car 390 C6.

1958/64 FE & 1966/70 410/428 flexplates are not the same.

 

Actually, that's incorrect. FE starters have 3 mounting bolts, and are unique to the application. Small block starters have 2 mount bolts and won't fit.