I have a 168 tooth dual clutch bolt pattern flywheel for my 4-spd swap replacing a 153 tooth flexplate. THe problem is that the starter is too close. NOthing I see when ordering a starter from ground up, or autozone (dont want to spend anymore than i have to on this) specifys 168 tooth so im afraid ill end up with the same problem. Do the "manual" starters clear this larger flywheel? are there different bolt holes and i can move the starter over?

how do i make this work?

to make this partsman friendly.....tell them its for a 70 454 4 speed chevelle that will get you a cast iron nosed ,high torque, stagered bolt starter

ok so there is no difference between big block and small block starters, they both will bolt up, however a "big block" starter is 168 tooth and small block is 153 tooth?

If you have a starter/alternator shop in the area they probably have the nose you need and they might swap it for less than another starter cost. The cars that came with the eleven inch clutch will have the 168 tooth flywheel and the staggered bolt starter nose. Are you running an eleven inch clutch?

nah, this flywheel is dual bolt pattern and I dont' need hte 11 inch so i went 10.5. Theres a local starter shop so I'll check there tommorrow and see if he has anything lying around.

I think 168 is for ext balance and 153 is internal balance and probably smaller. I had to get a starter for a 168 for my 383. Consider a high torque mini starter from DB electrical if you don't need it right away.

There are starter shims, I've only seen them come with a new starter however.

It has nothing to do with internal or external balance. If you run an 11" clutch you must use an 168 tooth flywheel because the diameter of the flywheel has to be increased to fit the larger pressure plate. If you increase the diameter of the flywheel you must move the starter so you need the staggered bolt starter nose.

yeah either flywheel/flexplate can be externally balanced for your application.

you cant use the smaller flywheel with a larger clutch, but some larger flywheels can accept either size clutch by having a dual bolt pattern (like mine).

There is no way you can shim the starter to fit, it needs to be around 1-2 inches further away from its current position, just not possible.

chip.... there are two basic starter bolt patterns... the bolts are stright across for 153 flywheel ... or stagered meaning that one is aprox 45 degress lower then the other for the 168 flywheel