Starter not fitting

[JohnPendroy]

I have a 66 coupe with a 289 and a 3 speed manual...my starter just died, when I went to pull it out, I noticed that it wasn't bolted down all the way, it kinda was propped up on one end...so I put the new one in and it too does not fit all the way, it seems like it hits the back of the bell-housing with the tip of the starter...is there another type of starter that I need? Has anybody else ever run into this? I need help!!!

 

[96 DOHC Cobra]

Manual and auto starters are different.

 

[JohnPendroy]

They are? So maybe somebody in the past swopped in my manual tranny in place of an old auto and they didn't change out the bell-housing...is this feasible?

This is what I bought...

Starter from Schmucks

 

[latamud]

My manual tranny takes an auto starter 3132. Maybe you need the manual tranny or is the new starter the same part number as the old on? Sounds like your old start had the bolts back out a bit. If so it might not be bad, just tighten it down. Take some pics of what's happening with the new starter.

 

[JohnPendroy]

My neighbor and I tested the old starter after I got it out of the car...it was dead...the wire from the solenoid to the starter was also damaged...so I got a new solenoid, wires and starter...the starter will not fit, the tip at the end butts into the back of the bell-housing...I can get one bolt in kinda crooked, just like the old starter...Im shure I can move the starter around until it starts the motor...but that is not the right answer...so...the automatic tranny starter may be what I need eh? 3132 is the part number that I ordered...I think the auto was 3124 or something...I will check later...the biggest pain in butt is the long tube headers...can't really get my hands in there to do any work...

 

[latamud]

Ah, that's the part number, I thought 3132 sounded familiar but 3124 is the auto tranny. I'm using the 3124 on my Manual, I used 3124 with my C4 auto, my toploader, my T5 and the T56.

 

[JohnPendroy]

Well, that solves it then...I think the parts store is closed today, but tomorrow, I will go in and trade the new manual starter for the auto starter, plus bring in my core that I forgot about...yum!