Starter issue.

I have a chevy 350 sb. that will soon receive a th-700 r4 tranni. N-e ways, the engine was bought as a long block (for the most part) not including the flexplate. I bought a "hughes" brand flexplate specific for the engine (part # via summit racing is hup-hp3992). When I bolted the plate on, there was zero space to line up and install the starter. Possibly the starter is set up for a different flex plate? I don't have another starter lying around and would hate to go buy one hoping it would work... If anyone can help I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanx.

Mike.:confused:

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Originally posted by atuhz
I have a chevy 350 sb. that will soon receive a th-700 r4 tranni. N-e ways, the engine was bought as a long block (for the most part) not including the flexplate. I bought a "hughes" brand flexplate specific for the engine (part # via summit racing is hup-hp3992). When I bolted the plate on, there was zero space to line up and install the starter. Possibly the starter is set up for a different flex plate? I don't have another starter lying around and would hate to go buy one hoping it would work... If anyone can help I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanx.

Mike.:confused:

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You'll problee' hafta' get a flex plate w/ fewer teeth or get a different starter, or get a different starter drive housing for your starter N' swap em'.

GM used 2 different sized flex plates. One has 168 teeth, the other might have had 152? I don't remember. Anyways, start counting (it may take a while) and get the one that you don't have.

Thanx to all very much. Problem solved.

Mike.

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Originally posted by atuhz
Thanx to all very much. Problem solved.

Mike.

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Wa'ja' do to fix it??:confused:

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Originally posted by pro70z28
Wa'ja' do to fix it??:confused:

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Hehehehehe JB Weld around the teeth and Duct tape around the starter and engine block:LOL:

Otto

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Originally posted by ljotto1
Hehehehehe JB Weld around the teeth and Duct tape around the starter and engine block:LOL:

Otto

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He He He. If they don't find ya' handsome at least they'll find ya' handy. :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: **)

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Originally posted by pro70z28
He He He. If they don't find ya' handsome at least they'll find ya' handy. :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: **)

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Thats so sweet pro, you said I'm handy, yet ugly:LOL:

Otto

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Originally posted by ljotto1
Thats so sweet pro, you said I'm handy, yet ugly:LOL:

Otto

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I "R" a charmer aren't I.......

I got bored of counting teeth on the flexplate, so I took the nose off of the starter to expose the gear assembly that engages the flexplate. I then took my trusty crowbar and bent the shaft of the starter so that the gear meshed well (mostly well) with the flexplate when engaged. Doesnt work too bad except for a little metal shavings every now and then...sure beats counting though. ;)

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Originally posted by atuhz
I got bored of counting teeth on the flexplate, so I took the nose off of the starter to expose the gear assembly that engages the flexplate. I then took my trusty crowbar and bent the shaft of the starter so that the gear meshed well (mostly well) with the flexplate when engaged. Doesnt work too bad except for a little metal shavings every now and then...sure beats counting though. ;)

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EEEEEk.:CRY: That won't last too long. I have the opposite problem. The ol' Chebbie truck iz' gettin' some mile on it and it's getting the ol' 1 of 4 bad spots. So every time i start it there's a 1 in 4 chance it'll grind. I'll fix it one of these dayz'.:(

Better idea. Go buy a new bendix setup for the 152 starter. if it doesnt mesh right, take it back and request the 168 starter one. the just swap it into your current starter motor. Most Auto parts stores will take back unused parts.

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Originally posted by atuhz
I got bored of counting teeth on the flexplate, so I took the nose off of the starter to expose the gear assembly that engages the flexplate. I then took my trusty crowbar and bent the shaft of the starter so that the gear meshed well (mostly well) with the flexplate when engaged. Doesnt work too bad except for a little metal shavings every now and then...sure beats counting though. ;)

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Why did I hear "Dooling Banjo's" When I read this???

Otto

I didn't know you could do that..... without breakin' the starter drive housing.

:3dSMILE: never to old to learn sumpthun' new right :LOL: :LOL: :CRY:

I "really" decided on a new flexplate - 153 tooth instead of the 168 I currently own. Havn't purchased it yet though. I currently have a brand new tci break away torque converter to fit my 700r. I'm sceptical as to it fitting the 153 tooth flexplate due to the reduction in diameter...so I'm contacting TCI to see what thier two cents about the issue is. Any extra help beyond thier input would also be greatly apprectiated.

thanx,

Mike.

Do me a favor and read my last post. 9 times out of 10, that will work.

I believe the smaller count is 153, not 152

well gentleman....I have switched end castings, tried different starters (everything from 168 tooth truck starters, all the way down to 168 tooth small profile starters...but not racing starters) and zero have worked. The closest I've come is with the current "small starer" that I purchased (and can return) that allowed me to bolt it up and bolt the flexplate up. The teeth on the flexplate are about 1/32 " from touching the shaft on the pinion gear. So do I try to shim the heck out of it from here? I'm checking to see if I was sent the wrong flexplate...but it has 168 teeth ( I finally counted them) and fits the crank perfect, so I have little faith of that being the problem. DRG84: The only thing I could find on bendix relating to cars was some crazy "starter drive system" that's made for a Ford Model T. I know thats not what you were thinking of - do you have a link to that system? Also, last but not least I can't switch to the smaller tooth flexplate, because my 400 dollar non- returnable torque converter won't fit the bolt pattern on it. Has anyone seen any links on how to install a "hand crank" onto a 350? I'm ready to just install a metal rod through the grill of the car and wind her up from now on. :) Thanks for eveyones patience!

MIke.

the new small profile starter I have has staggered bolts.