Starter Brace

[opelitis1]

Is it ALways a great idea to put a starter brace on whether Hi-Po or not??
Ted

[Sauron327]

Yes. Structural rigidity.

[dutch]

Is it ALways a great idea to put a starter brace on whether Hi-Po or not??
Ted

  I put a 350 in my son's S10 and the starter forever shifts a while after each time it gets realigned and tightened up to the point that it starts grinding and I'm afraid will soon ruin the ring gear if I don't find a solution.
  Does anyone have a picture of what such a small block brace looks like or especially what it looks like installed on an engine and starter so I can determine where it sits relative to everything else.
  If I can't get one easily and cheaply I may just try and make my own since an S10 installation doesn't afford a lot of spare room and the starter I used was from a newer mid ninties truck V6 because it was already smaller in size than an original unit.
   If I can see what it should mount up like and where one of these attaches to the block and starter itself, my best hope may be to fab up something to fit in a custom sense. - Thanks  - Randy

[gro51]

Here's on Rick's sells.  Most of the parts houses sell them.  There's a different one for 70 and up SBC. 

http://www.rickscamaros.com/product.asp?pf%5Fid=RC%2D307&dept%5Fid=3235

[gro51]

Oops.  That's for a big block, but hey have 'em for small block too.

[RamAirDave]

Still available from GM as well.

[dutch]

  Yep - as soon as I saw this thread posted I looked up the brace itself on Rick's First Gen. as well as the Summit catalog sites and noted that they are apparently readily available.
   What all of this doesn't tell me though is just how and where the brace itself connects the starter and block to eliminate the movement over time, that I am experiencing.
  Anyone have a picture that shows how the bracket actually fits to solve the problem? - Thanks - Randy
 

[1968RSZ28]

Anyone have a picture that shows how the bracket actually fits to solve the problem? - Thanks - Randy

Randy -

See UPC 6, Sheet B3 in the '68 AIM.

Paul

[dutch]

Thanks Paul got it...should have thought about the AIM in the first place I guess.
 Do all or especially later blocks have a boss for the upper part of the braket to bolt up to? I think the one I used was a '79 - '82 four bolt version and I can't crawl under right now to check it. Thanks - Randy

[JohnZ]

The boss and tapped hole for the upper attachment of the starter brace is on every Chevy block cast since the first one in 1955. The brace is absolutely necessary to support the starter and keep the nose in alignment with the ring gear, along with using the correct knurled starter bolts; many Bubba mechanics leave it off when changing the starter, which results in a short life for the starter and noises that weren't there before.

Photo below is a '67 Corvette, but the arrangement is the same for all Chevy V-8's; the top attachment is a 5/16"-18 x 1/2" bolt, and the stud protruding from the armature housing is 1/4"-20.

[dutch]

   Thanks everyone and especially John for the picture - it certainly is worth many words...

    I'll have to see if I can manage a look at the top of the starter through the headers to see if the model I used looks like it has a correct attachement point to bolt a braket to it and if so I'll order one. Even if it doesn't I may just get one anyway for the cost involved and Bubba it to make it work. 

                                                                                                                                                             Thanks again for the assistance - Randy

[jdv69z]

I need one of these for my 69 Z; Is the flywheel dia 12 3/4" or 14"

Jimmy V.

[JohnZ]

I need one of these for my 69 Z; Is the flywheel dia 12 3/4" or 14"

Jimmy V.

The original Z flywheel was 12-3/4" overall diameter, 153 teeth, casting #3791021.

[jdv69z]

Thanks John, that's the one I've got.

Jimmy V.

[CVKUEBER]

GM part # is 354353 for small block. Still available from your local dealer for 9.33