Thread: Starter Bolt

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Have 72 El Camino 350 350 trans, sheared starter bolt. I am attaching a photo of the staggered bolt snapped, is there a replace not starter that can mount in existing two holes? Well don't know how to post pic. There are 3 holes 2 rear at bell housing and one front. The front is snapped. Thanks

by the front do you mean towards the front of the engine? If so that is one of the bolts that go through the starter to hold it together. If your careful you can replace it with a threaded rod. I believe it to be 1/4-20.

Posting pictures - http://www.clubhotrod.com/shop-talk/...es-thread.html

If it broke from over torque-ing then it can probably be worked out. If it broke during extraction, from being rusted, then it will have to be drilled out and the threads 'chased' with a tap. If it snapped from being cross threaded, quite probably will need to be over - drilled and an insert of some type used.

Originally Posted by Yagermichael

Have 72 El Camino 350 350 trans, sheared starter bolt. I am attaching a photo of the staggered bolt snapped, is there a replace not starter that can mount in existing two holes? Well don't know how to post pic. There are 3 holes 2 rear at bell housing and one front. The front is snapped. Thanks

Not a SBC guy, but as I understand it if you were bolted to the staggered holes you should have a 168 tooth flywheel as opposed to 153, but you need to know for sure. If you look at Summit's listing, it appears that you can buy any combination you want - this page (attached) shows 350V8, 168 tooth, in-line mount - http://www.summitracing.com/search/p...pattern/inline
You can pick up a ton of info on the history, and the changes in bolt patterns over the years if you read through this thread - look in particular about 10 or 11 posts down to a guy named DZAuto's post - 153 vs 168 tooth starter - ChevyTalk --The Social Network for Chevy Fans

Or, you can extract the bolt.... Welcome to CHR, by the way!

If it uses the staggered bolt pattern the drive blocks the use of the straight-across bolt, that's why the different pattern is there. To use the other pattern you will probably have to change the ring gear/ flywheel.
Also, you must use the knurled bolts to properly align the starter, a regular bolt or a stud will cause rapid wear on the drive gear and make a lot of racket.