Anybody else out there with a Small block that does NOT have three holes drilled and tapped for the starter nosecone?

I have only two holes on my mid-'70's 400, and can only mount the starters with the offset bolts. There is a cast cavity near where the inside bolt hole would be, so I can't drill and tap the missing hole on this block. (unless I play around with structural adhesive, or otherwise get too crafty for my own good...)

Has anyone seen one of the "mini" starters that used the offset holes?

schurkey,
Most of the aftermarket (Tilton, Hamburger etc) starters will work with either set of holes.

------------------
Bill Koustenis
Advanced Automotive Machine
Waldorf Md

1971 Heavy Chevy - original owner
Team Chevelle #100

I have had two 400 blocks, and neither had the inner hole for the straight bolt hole pattern. I drilled and tapped both blocks without any problems.

All the mini starters I have seen (mine included) have the straight pattern.

If you are refering to the "bump" in the bellhousing area where the inner bolt needs to go, that is a reinforcement for the inner bolt threads. Just drill the whole way thru, and tap for a 3/8-16 bolt.

Todd G
Malibu Muscle
www.qis.net/~tgeisler (http://www.qis.net/~tgeisler)

------------------


[This message has been edited by Todd Geisler (edited 09-26-99).]

Let me point something out here real quick. SB400s can ONLY use the LARGE dia. (168 teeth) flywheel. Thus they require the starter nose with the offset bolt pattern. Therefore, there is no need for the third, straight across hole.
Now, I suppose you COULD use the small dia flywheel (153 teeth) on a SB400. But because they require an unbalanced flywheel, that would require a lot of weight for the small dia flywheel.
And one last thing, regardless of what they came with originally, I always use the large dia. flywheel on all of my engines. Mainly, to be able to use an 11in clutch.

------------------
Tom Parsons

My 400 has been balanced to use a non-counterweighted flywheel, so I can use the small ring gear should I want to. (I happen to be very fond of the lightweight nodular iron flywheel GM sells, although I'm running a TH400 now.)

I'll re-check the block, but I'm sure mine has a cast-in void or hollow, about where the missing hole would go. I'd be drilling and tapping mostly air, and not much iron. Thanks for the replies!

And that was another option I forgot.

------------------
Tom Parsons

Is it safe to assume that the 168 tooth flywheel uses stagered bolt starter and the 153 uses straight across bolt starter? Also, on the bell housing mount starters, are there 168 tooth flywheel and 153 tooth flywheel. Thank you.
Stano

Yes, Stano, the large flywheel uses the staggered holes, small flywheel uses the straight across holes. I can't help you on the bellhousing mounted starters, except to say that -perhaps- both size ring gears could be used if Chevy produced starter nosecones that had the proper offset. There may have been only one nosecone for the bellhousing mount starters, and I don't know which ring gear it would fit.