Thread: Project $ 3 K Is Underway

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I worked in a Delco starter shop and 6 out of ten starters needed to be shimed away from the block because it wouldn't disengage or growled when it started. A couple shims will solve the problem straight away imho.

Way to go Don, even though you wern't quite ready, it must have been a thrill to hear her run. It is getting closer everyday to driving her down the raod.

Originally Posted by Gusaroo

Where's the "youtube" video of this event...?

I guess I have to save that for when I take the first lap around the block, huh? We were so busy I didn't even get pictures of anything we did.


As for the starter, what helped a little was we installed a round shim they give you in the box.............not the normal flat shims that go on the mounting bolts, but this round shim goes on the snout and serves to move the starter toward the front of the engine slightly. But even with that it was too far back just a tad.

I am going to get the car up on some stands so I can see under there (darned thing is too low ) and do that measuring thing the guy from Powermaster suggested. I have seen some flywheels that have a little round spacer ring that goes on the same bolt holes as the flywheel or flexplate. Does Chevy use a spacer behind the flexplate??? I am also going to pop the convertor loose and see how easily it moves rearward.

But on the upside, the engine fires up on about one revolution and sounds pretty good. Just some minor ( I hope) things to fix, and it should be a runner.

Don

Ok, get out the popcorn. Finally got the starter shimmed right tonight and fired it up.


Lots of stray wires and hoses, but at least it runs........and no leaks so far.



www.youtube.com/watch?v=AioHw2-6Jyc


Don

Right on ,congrats don, she sounds good.

Don sounds great glad you did get the you tube up . Was really waiting on this one . Its a sweet thing when they hit right off and purr like that . To me it gives a little more confidence for the trip down the road . Now keep going and keep the cam up for its maiden journey out of the shop lot . Makes me want to stay home from work and get in the garage .

You tube has made you go from a rod builder to a movie star . LOL

Alright!!! I'm glad it turned out to be a simple fix and not a defective starter snout. It won't be long now...

Don---Special congratulations to you!!! feels great, doesn't it.---Brian

I knew you could do it Don, it sounds great. Next trip on youtube will have to be the complete car. Go have a beer I will buy.
Brad

Thanks guys, yep, it is pretty exciting. Funny part was, I didn't realize how close I was to getting it fired up. When Dan started pushing me to do it there seemed like a million little things we needed to do first, and I kept telling him there was too much to do. But he finally got out some paper and said "ok, what all do we need to buy tonight?" Turned out the list was shorter than I thought it would be.

I'm really glad he urged me to get it running because now a lot of "unknowns" are out of the way. It starts up, runs, and seems to have no issues. After we did the video thing we put jackstands under the rear axle to get the wheels off the ground, and I was able to shift the transmission through the gears. It seems fine, and the driveline seems to move smoothly and quietly.

Good thing we ran out of time or I might have bolted my pondering chair to the frame and taken a quick lap around the block. Now I can concentrate on my brake lines, wiring, and getting some paint on the body.

I'm really glad I could do the Youtube thing and share it with all of you who have been so supportive and fun throughout this build.

Don

Oh, thought I would pass along what we learned about the starter problem, in case anyone else has similar issues. When I went back and pulled up Jag454's thread in our archieves, the Tech guy from Powermaster said there should be 15/16 inches of clearance from the centerline of the mounting bolts to the front facing edge of the flexplate or flywheel. When I measured mine, it was about 7/8, so my flexplate was further forward than the perfect dimension.

I called B and M because I am using their flexplate, and the guy there (not the most helpful one I have ever run into ) said if the counterweights were on the front of my flexplate I had it on right. They were. So the obvious thing was to make up a thicker shim to move the starter more forward, away from the flexplate. Dan made up one out of 1/8 inch plate, and that did the trick. There is now sufficient clearance between the starter gear and flexplate. Dan is going to make up a permanent spacer out of aluminum and tig it to the mounting base now that we know it works this way.

I'm not sure what is going on with these aftermarket, high performance starters. There have been numerous posts on lots of forums about people having clearance issues with them. Gee, for years all we did was go to the local auto parts store, buy a starter, and bolt it on. Now we have these high tech starters and they seem to need fine tuning. Very strange.

Don

Don,the car has alway's looked great now we know it sound's great. Now tear it all apart and do the rebuild on youtube.

Ron

Don, that sounded great for a SBC. Nice job. I can hardly wait to see the car together and running on the street. You'll have to Utube that too.

Kinda like givin' birth huh? Only we didn't have to go through that breathin' and hand holdin' thing (phew!).
Yes, of course you'll get your shape back.

Congrats Pops!

Don, over the years I've heard many complaints on sbc starters not lining up correctly be they after market or from the parts store. When I put the 400 in the '62 pickup I swapped the nose cone from the 400 starter with the 283 starter and bolted it to the bellhousing and never had any problems.
Your engine sounds really good and I can hear the need for the baffles. Forty years ago it wouldn't have mattered. As with others I anxiously await it being finished and on the street. It will be a head turner.

Thanks again y'all. Yes, it is sort of like giving birth.......although I can't say I was brave enough to ACTUALLY go into the delivery room when all that was going on. If I did, the Doctors would have had 2 patients to deal with......my wife, and ME laying on the floor passed out.

I am convinced that baffles have to go in there. I am ordering turnouts to deflect the fumes and sound outward a little, but no question it would raise the attention of too many cops if left unmuffled. I hope even the baffles keep that from happening.

Don