The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Bell Housing & Starter Problem

Hello Guys! I need your help with a starter problem on my 56 3100 with a 265 V8 and 3 speed OD.The starter runs and only half the time engages the flywheel. I rebuilt the one I had and put in a new solonoid and brushes. When that didn't work got a similar one from a local parts store that was listed as a 57 year. It looks like the bell housing is not original and the teeth of the starter don't come out far enough to fully engage. Their books didn't have a 56. I can't find a number on my bell housing to try and determine what it is. Don't want to drop the tranny if I don't have too. All three starter bolt holes on the housing have threads. But the top hole on the starter has threads as well so I know something is wrong. Any help to find the right starter would be appreciated.

missing fly wheel teeth? there are starters on ebay

A knowledgeable parts guy should be able to match up your starter with another. You could also have your starter professionally rebuilt. It sounds like the nflywheel ring gear is suspect in your case. Perhaps replacing the flywheel will solve your problem. You could certainly drop the inspection cover to see if the gear is chewed up.

Sounds like a mismatch somewhere. The bottom & side holes are threaded in the bell housing & the top bolt comes in from the back & is threaded in the starter housing. Did you replace the starter drive? it is a one way clutch & can slip internally. Drop the lower cover & disconnect the screw that hooks the starter term to the selinoid. Then use a remote starter switch or jumper wire to engauge the selinoid & watch what is happening.

The top hole on the bell housing shouldn't have threads in it and the bolt threads in from the rear of the truck into the starter. The bottom two thread in from the front through the starter. Pickup bell housings were the same from 55 into the late 60's 0r 70's save for a few that had hydraulic clutches. I would drop the cover and make sure the motor will turn over a complete revolution checking the teeth while doing so. I f you have a bad ring gear change the flywheel if the motor will not make a complete revolution you have other problems. Also you should put new bushings in the starter these can be purchased at your local Scottish parts store.

Thanks for all the information. I alreay had the cover off and the teeth are a little worn but ok and all are there. I was able to get the Flywheel number 3714463 which doesn't seem to the right one. Ther date code which I can see on the bell housing is B106 but from TTODS comments it not the original Bell housing either. I sent email to two people who had Bell houseing on ebay as 55-57 and bot indicated the top started hole was threaded so I'm getting two different opinions on that area. I took the solinoid off the starter so I could manually work the actuator and the gear will extend the correct distance to engage the flywheel if I pry a little with a screwdriver, but its not smooth process. So still a mystery, and not sure the best way to resolve yet.

I don't know what will go with what but your flywheel comes up as a 168 tooth used in 348ci/409ci applications.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-3...tegoryZ33732QQcmdZViewItem#ht_2845wt_794

Rebel Roger,
I wasn't quite certain from your post if your setup had ever worked properly. If NOT, you may need a different starter. I have a frankenbolt '52 that I'm working on. I put a 250 engine from a '73 in my truck. The bellhousing that I got from the salvage yard was of unknown origin and I didn't realize that all three holes in the bellhousing were tapped - just like yours!
I have a 168 tooth flywheel also. A fellow stovebolter - TC's Truck Parts - hooked me up with a "three bolt starter", and my problems were solved. Works GREAT! Wish I had taken some pictures...
TC's TRUCK PARTS
Hope this helps
BlueDawg

The starter you want will look something like this
http://c2c.activant.com/ctoc/index.jsp?ID=ZEz1rACw.PnNgPVN9CU4Kd2ZOVhp1AVwPGwAA
It's for chevy trucks from late 70's to early 90's
Bluedawg

I've had the truck about 2 years now and the starter has always been flakey. You had to hit the switch 3-4-5 times to get it to catch and turn over the engine. Last week it 20 minutes to engage, and that ticked me off! It had a 283 when I got it but I found an original 265 and put back in it. I just assumed the bell housing and flywheel were stock. Thanks to Randys post and a little more digging on my part it looks an early 60's for like an Impala with a 348 engine. I will be picking up a starter for a 61 Impala tomorrow and see if that does the trick.

I had a similar problem with a combination of mis-matched parts, took the starter to a professional starter and generator rebuilder. He took all the right parts out of bins and made up a custom unit for me, it works fine, and cost me $70.00.

I called my local auto parts place to order a 61 Impala starter for a 348/409 engine to try and match my flywheel. Turns out that was the same part number that I had already picked up as the 57 Chevy pickup starter. So no progres there my flywheel and a 56 are both 168 teeth so I'm guessing that this combo should work even though the bolt thread item for the one hole is still there. The new starter is no better than my old one. If I just hook up the solinoid and use my remote starter about half the time it just slams into the face of the flywheel and doesn't engage the teeth. I'm taking this one back and will just work with my original one as with the worn teeth, it actually works better. I wonder if when I had that flywheel resurfaced if they took a little wear off the teeth and messed with the way the gears mesh? Or maybe I need to try shimming the starter some?

Howdy,

As I understand it, the unthreaded top hole in the bell housing was on the '55-'58 V8 bell housings only. I have a 1963 V8 bellhousing for my '56 3105 and all the holes are threaded. Since all SBC starters that bolt to the bellhousing for 168t flywheels are pretty much the same EXCEPT for the top hole, rebuilders stick on whatever end they have. My starter is supposed to be for a '65 Belaire, but the number on the box covers all SBCs from '55 to '67!
Go figure!

best wishes,

Les

Well thanks for all the ideas and information. Since a new starter for a 168 tooth flywheel didn't change the smptoms, it must be this odd ball flywheel or just worn out teeth on the flywheel. So I took my original starter that had some worn teeth and touched them up with a file. Also took a chain saw file to the teeth on my flywheel and "calibrated" them a little. I expect some of you real mechanic's out there are shaking your heads! But at least now the starter works the first time 75% of the time and after that it may take one or two hits of the key to engage and start. Some day I'll try to fix it right, but can't do it right now. Thanks again!