[1967LSxChevelle]

Take a factory starter to a quality rebuilder and have him change the windings to hi torque. Make sure you use the little end bracket, the correct GM bolts and the correct shims.

The additional weight brought on by the original starter mounted on the passenger side actually helps balance the cars weight bias to the driver's side.

The factory starters sound better, work better and are much stronger. They also get the oil circulating faster on a cold, dry engine..

I 100% agree. I absolutely refuse to use a gear reduction or “mini” starter on anything I own that isn’t a Chrysler product. Set up properly, the factory Delco direct drive starter is rugged, reliable, and as you stated; sound “correct”. I never had a problem with them, from bone stock 305s to 11.5:1 454s. I actually removed a perfectly working LT1 gear reduction starter from my 83 Trans Am yesterday and replaced it with a 1.5kw direct drive factory starter with the correct support brace. I also love people that complain about the weight of the factory starters, which weigh roughly 20-22lbs. If somebody can’t hold 22lbs up above their head to run a couple of bolts in, maybe they should put their purse down and use two hands 🤣

 

[1967LSxChevelle]

Yes to almost everything above and fer you young Whippersnappers this was a common problem years ago in that the starter housings were machined wrong at first they came out with a 15 thousands shim you loosened both bolts removed the outer one and put a shim in. Then you tried it and continued adding till the grind went away. This was at the very beginning then they got smart in the aftermarket . Companies like Perfect Parts Dorman and Wohlert came out with a combo pack there were three different size shims .015 .030 and . 045. the reasoning was the harder the grind the thicker the shim. This went on for years and then it stopped or became a non factor . i still have a little box of these shims new and used . i have not seen them in years up this way . I don't think that they are even made anymore. Alex

Starter shims are still made by Dorman and are supplied with many reman starters. Only now, they come in 1/64, 1/32, and 1/16 thickness.