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Quick question

Will a starter from a 1957 car fit in a truck 235? The engine is the same as far as I can tell though the starter starts differently.

I will say this 235 has a powerglide still attached not sure if that has any bearing.

Someone took out my foot stomp starter a long time ago, I have a push button on the dash, anyway I have a guy at work that has a 235 from his project 57 chevy project car. I just robbed the starter and the vacumn line of it, both kinda greasy and weathered, I am going to clean the starter up but I want to make sure it will in fact work in the truck. I don't see why not just looking at it and remebering taking mine off and on yesterday. The wiring is a little different. This starter does work, bendix and solenoid work too

Thanks Guys

Birge

It depends....starters are matched up to the flywheels. You need to run a 12v starter with a 168 tooth flywheel and a 6 v starter with a 139 tooth flywheel. A 57 engine should have a 12v starter and a 168 tooth flywheel if it's factory stock. If the engine in your 52 truck is the original 6v 139 tooth flywheel, it will not work. Although the bendix drive tooth count is the same for both 6 and 12 v starters they are not interchangable.

The easiest way to differentiate between starters is to check the factory COLOR on the little oval tag on the starter. A black color in the tag indicates 6v while red is a 12v. If the tag is missing you can measure the diameter of the bendix drive gear...if it's over 1" in diameter (1.150") it's a 6 v. A 12v is .990" in diameter. Also the armature shaft in the 6v is larger at .558" while the 12v is .460.

The reason you need to check this before you bolt in the "57" starter is because they will both bolt up to the bell housing but will not work if they don't match the flywheel. In addition, a 57 engine can also be running a 6v flywheel and 6v starter running on 12v.

Hope this helps you get your starter situation sorted out.

Dave

Dave,

Thanks, your very knowledgable about these starters. My engine is a 1958-1962 (by the casting numbers) and is 12 volt. I would say that the flywheel is is probbably 168 tooth flywheel, it is possible that maybe it has the original 6 volt flywheel but I don't know unless I count them. I guess what I will do is put it togther and see if it works, if not I will rebuild the other starter. Thanks for the quick response.


Thanks
Birge

You are asking for trouble if you "put it together and see if it works".

As noted above, the difference is obvious if you look at them side by side. The 12V gears are smaller and have narrower teeth. Compare the old and "new" ones.

Cletis I will look at it more once I remove the other starter, I think I already have some teeth missing unfotunatley. THis old starter may not be the right choice simply because its pretty wethered, and it sure isn;t spinning very quick.

Thanks
Birge

I haven't had a bunch of time yet this week to remove the old starter and look at the fly wheel, and also look at the other starter drive. I am confident that both engines are 12 volt, I know both starters are 12 volt. I guess my biggest concern is the flywheel, but as you said, and your right I will check things out more closely rather than slap it together and see is it works.

Thanks Again

Birge