Help with starter for 400 staggered bolt pattern
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 184
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Help with starter for 400 staggered bolt pattern
I ordered a 400 ci engine from AR Racing awhile back.
The latest part we need is a starter. Apparently the starter on my 80' vetter is not fitting up. The engine is a 400 block with a stagered bold pattern and a lakewood bellhousing.
Any of yall know which starter I can use that will bolt up?
Thanks for any help.
The latest part we need is a starter. Apparently the starter on my 80' vetter is not fitting up. The engine is a 400 block with a stagered bold pattern and a lakewood bellhousing.
Any of yall know which starter I can use that will bolt up?
Thanks for any help.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
A 400ci block should be the same as a 350ci on the outside and the starters should be interchangable, it was on mine. I know this doesn't answer your question but it may help anyway, good luck 
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
There are 2 starter noses for the SB Chevy. The small diameter flywheel uses the pattern that is straight across and the large diameter flywheel which uses the staggard pattern. I am pretty sure all 400s use the big wheel and therefore will use the staggard starter nose. Your 80 350 with a turbo 350 trans most likely used the 153 tooth flywheel. You need a 168 tooth starter. Make sure you have the correct flywheel for your motor also.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Thanks guys.
So will they sell a staggered nose starter at Jegs, Summit, etc? Anything else I gotta looks out for other than the staggered bolt pattern? And will the fact that it is a lakewood bellhousing make any difference as to the starter I need?
Thanks again.
So will they sell a staggered nose starter at Jegs, Summit, etc? Anything else I gotta looks out for other than the staggered bolt pattern? And will the fact that it is a lakewood bellhousing make any difference as to the starter I need?
Thanks again.
Last edited by Homie; Mar 22, 2005 at 10:09 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,532
Likes: 4
From: Fairview Heights Illinois, near Saint Louis MO, STL C3 Shark
You could just go to Azone or local auto parts store and actually LOOK at a starter right in front of you. You'll immediately be able to see the difference. Have them pull a couple starters for manuals/autos and autos with lock-up starters. There are actually 3 flywheel sizes. My th350c had different than normal th350. Either way, you can understand more if you see two of them side by side.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 962
Likes: 0
From: Carlisle PA
Powermaster has a high torgue mini starter for the staggered bolt pattern. Not sure of the part number, but I'm pretty sure you have to have a 168 tooth flywheel for it to work.
Jegs/Sumitt should both have it.
Jegs/Sumitt should both have it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 1
From: Beverly Massachusetts
your best bet would be to go to AutoZone or another local autoparts store where they can look up the exact part that you need unlike Jegs or Summit in my case where i ordered a mini starter and told the guy that i need one for a 76 corvette with a 350 and he said that i need the one with the straight bolt pattern not the stagered and i told him i was almost 100% sure it was the stagered and he insisted it wasnt and talked me into the straight patern. 
so i went out last night to put it on and well its the wrong one. stupid tech support at summit. i shoulda looked befor i ordered.
so i went out last night to put it on and well its the wrong one. stupid tech support at summit. i shoulda looked befor i ordered.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Virginia USA
Flywheels with two different diameters are used on Chevrolet small-block V8, big-block V8, and V6/90° engines. Large flywheels are 14" in diameter, and have 168 teeth on the starter ring gear. Small diameter flywheels are 12-3/4" in diameter and have 153 teeth on the starter ring gear. The difference in flywheel diameters requires two distinct starter housings. Starter noses used with large diameter flywheels have two offset bolt holes; starters for small flywheels have two bolt holes which are parallel to the back of the block. Most blocks are drilled for both types of starters if its a Chevy, I don't know about Pontiac's. If you are changing the diameter of your flywheel, you can convert your present starter to fit the new flywheel by installing the appropriate starter nose, starter motor housing, found within each engine classification.
