Need help with starter selection for SBC

« **on:** May 31, 2012, 08:19:52 PM »

Hi guys, I've got a 1973 Cougar with a 350 Small block chevy, Berkeley 12JC, 3 point engine mounts with aluminum bellhousing. My starter isn't engageing most of the time and I'd like to order a replacement to have in my hand before I pull the old one out - problem is I see 2 different marine starters for the SBC for 2 different sized flywheels.

Does anybody have an idea what flywheel I have and/or what starter I need?

Thanks,

« **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:40:30 PM »

Does it have a top mounted starter? If so you need to remove the existing starter, and start counting teeth. I'd recommend painting a the tooth you start at one color (white) then paint a different color every 10 teeth (yellow). That way if you loose track you can catch up without having to count every tooth again. If I remember right it should be either 153 or 168 teeth.

« **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:42:32 PM »

Top mounted starter? I wish. No, the starter is in the standard car position on the lower starboard side of the engine.

« **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:46:52 PM »

Are you able to get the numbers off of the starter that is in now and cross reference it to see if it matches to a certain flywheel?

« **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2012, 08:50:39 PM »

Starboard ?? What, are you in the Navy ??

« **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2012, 09:02:06 PM »

yah i went thur this with my old boat. you need the starter that is the more expencive one. they made 2 diff sizes for the housing. they wont inter change.but yay you will need to pull the old starter .

« **Reply #6 on:** June 01, 2012, 12:45:51 AM »

if you can get the diameter of your flywheel you can figure how many teeth. 12.xx inch is the 153 and close to 14 inch is the 168

« **Reply #7 on:** June 01, 2012, 08:25:32 PM »

Thanks guys. If I could measure my flywheel that would be the easiest thing but it's enclosed in a bellhousing. It looks like I've found an article that shows how to tell by the bolt pattern of the starter. Now lets hope that it really is my starter that is bad and not my flywheel (or flexplate).

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Noisy/grinding_GM_starter_fixes

Trukinbear

Need help with starter selection for SBC

crewchief22

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USCvictory

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