I hope this is in the right section, my current task is kinda odd but maybe not. I have looked through various threads and see a lot differing opinion on this problem so I am posting up to hopefully get some straight advice. The car is an '87 LX Interceptor that has been fitted with an Aussie block 351 punched to 408. The builder strapped a fully prepped C4 small bell with 157 tooth ring gear to it. Here's the part you knew was coming, they used a Ford Performance mini starter (50A) and it came in grinding the hell out of the starter drive. I have discovered that if I remove the lower bolt and shift the starter outward in it's plate mounting hole, I can then get the starter drive to engage and release from the ring gear in acceptable fashion. I had removed the solenoid to allow me to manually actuate the starter drive. My question is, does somebody make an offset bolt or bushing and bolt setup to make this correction. I saw mention of somebody using a smaller diameter bolt but he could not keep the starter from shifting around in it's mounting due to torque loading during starting. Thanks for the forum and the advice.
The starter monster
- Thread starter TuneUpsNSuch
- Start date
Have you browsed a website like summit racing to look for such a part? I vaguely remember there being starters with multiple bolt patterns for just a situation as yours, but I've never used one myself, so I can't say for sure.
Finally....
I have finally resolved the starter issue on this beast. I went with the "clapper" style Ford type starter and used a MotorMite starter spacer. Then made sure the starter was torqued down really good. Now it spins over nice and strong like a good Ford should. There was no clearance issue with the block or oil pan as some have claimed. The starter application was from a '90 V8 Mustang. Header clearance is good as is clearance for the battery cable connection on the starter.
I have finally resolved the starter issue on this beast. I went with the "clapper" style Ford type starter and used a MotorMite starter spacer. Then made sure the starter was torqued down really good. Now it spins over nice and strong like a good Ford should. There was no clearance issue with the block or oil pan as some have claimed. The starter application was from a '90 V8 Mustang. Header clearance is good as is clearance for the battery cable connection on the starter.
Oh well, they tried to warn me ... lol. The clapper didn't live too long under the strain of the hi comp cleveland so I went back to the PMGR but still had to use a spacer, probably had something to do with the aftermarket flex plate or maybe the crank thrust setup put it a little to close to the starter drive. Either way, it's all good now even on hot restarts.
