The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Hi-Torque/ Gear Reduction Starters

One other note...you're aware Chevy/GM made a higher torque starter, yes? A stock production unit. It isn't mentioned here much but the tip-off is the rear part of the starter case...otherwise they look very similar and this at a quick glance might be confusing. The higher torque starter had a different case (you will see the part at the rear where it tapers and changes diameter is different) and the easiest clue is how the solenoid connects. In the standard starter the solenoid connects right to the piece that comes out of the starter. But in the higher torque starter the piece that comes out of the starter sits further back to GM cleverly made a spacer to connect it...maybe 3/4 of an inch long as I remember. Maybe so the same solenoid could be used on either one. There was something different about the front part (the cone that inserts into the bell housing), but I can't remember what that was...different bolt pattern? These were used on V8s and on some (maybe all) there was a rear mounting piece you needed to use for stability...it bolted onto the block. You can't swap these...I remember that. One will engage with the flywheel correctly and one won't. Sorry...we're talking over 50 years here. Maybe Jerry or Craig will remember.