Front Starter Brace-Necessary?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Front Starter Brace-Necessary?
I have been driving my 1974 for six summers with little or no starter problems. Lately I decided to clean up the wiring after miles of oil and grease buildup. That's what happens when you drive your Corvette.
So I checked wiring diagrams and the AIM. The wiring with points and condensor seemed straightforward as long as you remembered the "R" from the "S". But the AIM showed a front starter brace?? I don't have one. So I ordered up along with a heatshield.
Easy job if you can get past the heat riser and exhaust pipe. Wrong! Pretty tight in there when crawling on your back under jack stands. After poking about for an hour or so I could not get the (correct) attachment bolt to thread into the block. My conclusion: the hole in the block is not threaded! I just gave up.
Q1. Is this brace really needed? Q2. Did some 350s come without it? I can't understand why that block hole is not threaded. And I'll be d***ed if I have to tap it. The front bolts are over 4" and pretty sturdy. After six years I'll just keep driving.
So I checked wiring diagrams and the AIM. The wiring with points and condensor seemed straightforward as long as you remembered the "R" from the "S". But the AIM showed a front starter brace?? I don't have one. So I ordered up along with a heatshield.
Easy job if you can get past the heat riser and exhaust pipe. Wrong! Pretty tight in there when crawling on your back under jack stands. After poking about for an hour or so I could not get the (correct) attachment bolt to thread into the block. My conclusion: the hole in the block is not threaded! I just gave up.
Q1. Is this brace really needed? Q2. Did some 350s come without it? I can't understand why that block hole is not threaded. And I'll be d***ed if I have to tap it. The front bolts are over 4" and pretty sturdy. After six years I'll just keep driving.
Last edited by Paul L; Apr 28, 2014 at 08:08 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 774
Likes: 1
From: Round Rock Texas
I have been driving my 1974 for six summers with little or no starter problems. Lately I decided to clean up the wiring after miles of oil and grease buildup. That's what happens when you drive your Corvette.
So I checked wiring diagrams and the AIM. The wiring with points and condensor seemed straightforward as long as you remembered the "R" from the "S". But the AIM showed a front starter brace?? I don't have one. So I ordered up along with a heatshield.
Easy job if you can get past the heat riser and exhaust pipe. Wrong! Pretty tight in there when crawling on your back under jack stands. After poking about for an hour or so I could not get the (correct) attachment bolt to thread into the block. My conclusion: the hole in the block is not threaded! I just gave up.
Q1. Is this brace really needed? Q2. Did some 350s come without it? I can't understand why that block hole is not threaded. And I'll be d***ed if I have to tap it. The front front bolts are over 4" and pretty sturdy. After six years I'll just keep driving.
So I checked wiring diagrams and the AIM. The wiring with points and condensor seemed straightforward as long as you remembered the "R" from the "S". But the AIM showed a front starter brace?? I don't have one. So I ordered up along with a heatshield.
Easy job if you can get past the heat riser and exhaust pipe. Wrong! Pretty tight in there when crawling on your back under jack stands. After poking about for an hour or so I could not get the (correct) attachment bolt to thread into the block. My conclusion: the hole in the block is not threaded! I just gave up.
Q1. Is this brace really needed? Q2. Did some 350s come without it? I can't understand why that block hole is not threaded. And I'll be d***ed if I have to tap it. The front front bolts are over 4" and pretty sturdy. After six years I'll just keep driving.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Strange as it seems the 75 I had did not have one. I replaced it with a mini starter anyway. Now I am installing headers on my 78 and it does not have the brace either. I, like you, don't think the starter needs one. I say that because to install the passenger's side I have to remove the starter and I did a preview before I go at it tmo and it does not have one. I am thinking the Vettes that had all the power and torque probably needed one. But, if it ain't broke...don't fix it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,381
Likes: 416
From: N J
I would think if you have the heavy stock style starter, I would want the brace there. It supports a lot of weight just hanging there in the front of the starter. On bumpy roads it sure cant hurt to have the extra support. Can only help.
Not sure why the hole inst threaded, I believe that serves as a ground to connect a cable from the motor mount horn.
Not sure why the hole inst threaded, I believe that serves as a ground to connect a cable from the motor mount horn.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 334
Likes: 6
I just changed the starter on my '75 (a lot of mods by previous owners) and there was no front brace or heat shield. It seems plenty stable with just the two bolts (tighten them as per Assembly Manual, can't recall the ft-lbs off hand).
Thanks to all the other parts they removed and tossed there seems to be enough space around the header for heat to dissipate without the shield!
I will probably add the front brace down the road; I always thought they all had them originally, but honestly I'm not sure.
Thanks to all the other parts they removed and tossed there seems to be enough space around the header for heat to dissipate without the shield!
I will probably add the front brace down the road; I always thought they all had them originally, but honestly I'm not sure.
Last edited by C3Hawk; Apr 28, 2014 at 08:20 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 334
Likes: 6
John now you have me thinking. Next time I have the pass side header off (which I have to do to work around the starter easily anyway) I might just put the brace on. I might even add the missing ground wire just for looks!
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
I would think if you have the heavy stock style starter, I would want the brace there. It supports a lot of weight just hanging there in the front of the starter. On bumpy roads it sure cant hurt to have the extra support. Can only help.
Not sure why the hole inst threaded, I believe that serves as a ground to connect a cable from the motor mount horn.
Not sure why the hole inst threaded, I believe that serves as a ground to connect a cable from the motor mount horn.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
I just changed the starter on my '75 (a lot of mods by previous owners) and there was no front brace or heat shield. It seems plenty stable with just the two bolts (tighten them as per Assembly Manual, can't recall the ft-lbs off hand).
Thanks to all the other parts they removed and tossed there seems to be enough space around the header for heat to dissipate without the shield!
I will probably add the front brace down the road; I always thought they all had them originally, but honestly I'm not sure.
Thanks to all the other parts they removed and tossed there seems to be enough space around the header for heat to dissipate without the shield!
I will probably add the front brace down the road; I always thought they all had them originally, but honestly I'm not sure.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
That brace is important when supporting that heavy starter. If it is not there, all that weight is hanging on the back bolts. And, if wired correctly, that brace is the direct electrical connection for the starter's ground path.
Do what you need to get it installed. Just drop the exhaust pipe on that right-side manifold, if you need to.
Do what you need to get it installed. Just drop the exhaust pipe on that right-side manifold, if you need to.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 591
Likes: 3
From: Monroe Washington
My 81 with a transplanted 383 has it ... And I just replaced the starter last weekend... For some reason I could not get the new one to bolt right back up again, as it's a tight squeeze next to the header... Had to dremmel just a little of the bracket where it came close to the collector to get just that little bit of extra wiggle room... There was no other way the 'new ' but exactly same starter would fit back in otherwise... I know exactly how tight that is up there, and I'm glad I wasn't trying to install that bracket bolt .. Looks like a PITA!
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 81
From: Hamilton Virginia
I am sure having one is a great idea. I myself have yet to see one on any chevy I have ever owned or worked on. I drove my vette for 65,000 miles with no brace over a 6 year period before I pulled the 350 and installed a 454. The 454 I got was fan blade to transmission complete including the starter when I bought it and it did not have a brace on it. All the chevy trucks and other cars I have owned never had one. In conclusion, if you can and want to install one, do it. But till you get it installed, I wouldnt lose sleep over it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If that bracket were not "necessary", GM would NEVER have spent the money to make it and install it.
Mechanics working on starters tend to leave that bracket off because it saves them time. And, some owners do the same thing. That doesn't mean that it's a "good idea".
Mechanics working on starters tend to leave that bracket off because it saves them time. And, some owners do the same thing. That doesn't mean that it's a "good idea".
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
I tend to agree with you. I'll have access to a hoist in several weeks and will try it again by dropping the exhaust pipe. I can't do that kind of work crawling around under jack stands anymore. Age has few benefits.