69L46vert

Hi All,
Still getting some details ironed out before the body drop hopefully in a week or two.
This car is a 1969 NOM small block. Block is from a 1977/8 3/4 ton pickup. I bought a starter brace for a 69 small block Corvette and it doesn't fit. As near as I can tell the blocks must be different where the brace mounts. Or possibly the starter that I have is longer than original. Can anyone advise me on what starter brace might work for me? I'm interested only in fit and function, not after factory correct parts. I've included some pics to show what I have. Thanks, Rick

DonnieP73

The brace that you have may work. It should bolt to the second
hole in your photo above the starter. Here is the brace on my
73 from the block to the starter.









Photo a little blurred, but hope this might help you.

Donnie

Paul L

You haven't shown what brace you have.

Alan 71

Hi Rick,
I believe both the starter brace and the engine to frame ground strap both mount under a bolt in the forward hole in your picture.
The hole where you presently have the small spark plug wire loom is where the rear of the 'boomerang' spark plug wire heat shield, and the heat shield for the rear two spark plugs, mount.
Donnie's pics illustrate this but the ground strap and spark plug shield are missing.
Regards,
Alan

SB64

Hey Rick , looks like we are doing the same thing. My starter bracket, aftermarket is to long. Yours looks better. I need to get something shorter.
Roger

Paul L

I guess I am blind. I don't see his current brace.

SB64

Your not blind I meant Donnies brace, sorry

DonnieP73

Alan, I don't have the ground strap on because the engine isn't in the 73, but on an engine stand.
The spark plug shield is there, it is at the top of the first 2 photos above the boomerang shield strap and is hard to see.





Donnie

DonnieP73

Roger, I went and measured my brace and it is 5 1/4" long.
It is the original brace that came on my 73.

Donnie

Alan 71

Hi Donnie,
Too many pictures…. I was commenting on Ricks pictures about the shielding but it appeared I was was commenting on yours.
Regardless, the shielding and brace in YOUR pictures are where I would typically expect them to be.
Your engine certainly looks pretty sitting there!
Regards,
Alan

DonnieP73

Thanks Alan. Yes it does get confusing with all the photos.
Hope to get the engine back in before the end of the year.

Donnie

69L46vert

Yes, I should have included a pic of the brace I have. It looks just like the one on the left of your photo Paul but perhaps a little longer.

It seems like it would work if it were maybe 1" shorter and I drilled a new hole at the starter end for it.? Looks like it would mate to the block ok but too long to mate to the starter bolt.

The brace measures 6" long Zip's part M-2407 64-69 327-350. If it were 5 1/4" long like Donnie's I think it might just work.

Thanks for the replies everybody.

SB64

I think the motor looks great Donnie, and thanks for measuring your bracket. I have one coming at 5 1/4 so we will see. Otherwise I will drill a hole that lines up.
Thank you for your help and lets see that motor back where it belongs soon.
Roger

Paul L

I never installed that brace as it was real pain to get it under the heat riser. I tried but I could not get the bolt in and was too lazy to drop that side of the exhaust system, newly installed. But in six years it never was really needed. The starter works just fine without it. If you wish I can find that brace in my basement inventory and do a measurement/pic on it.

69L46vert

Thanks Paul but I can see mine's too long. I've owned and worked on a lot of SBC's and don't remember starter braces on any of them. But since the body's off and access is easy, I thought I'd use one.
The question now is what changed on the starter from 69-70 when it seems the shorter brace came into use? Thanks for all your help

Sayfoo

On my BB, the threaded hole isn't very deep. I think I had to cut a couple of threads off of a 1/2" long bolt, so that the bolt didn't bottom out and break something. You could run a bottoming tap in to clean up the threads.

69L46vert

Funny you mention this since I did do just that this morning. Not so much to make it deeper but to clean out the threads. And yes I agree, they sure aren't tapped very deep. Wouldn't want to break a too long bolt off in there. I was even more worried about breaking the tap off not like that has ever happened before or anything though

69L46vert

Thanks for this picture Donnie. I love looking at it It's pretty much right where I am trying to set the motor right. I see the two forward spark plug wires are through the motor mount and wondered if that's how mine are supposed to be. Seems like a good way to me. Keeps them off the exhaust and the wires I got are plenty long for it. Thanks, Rick

DonnieP73

Rick,
Yes, that is the way the wires were routed. It is that way on both sides.
I just ran the distributor ends through the motor mounts. The plug ends
were too big. Of course, it is a lot easier to run the front wires through the
mounts and under the boomerang shields with the motor out.
Glad you like the engine photo. It was a lot of work to this point.

Donnie

DonnieP73

Glad I could help. If I can help with anything, just let me know.
Yes, I am anxious to get the engine and transmission back in soon.

Donnie