[Rwolff]

Hello all,

Been battling a starter issue with a Chevy 350 (3970010) that sounds like everyone else's but with a twist. Located my engine stamping and noted it was a ckk code for the last 3 letters. It also has the bolt patterns for a flush-mount(90 degrees) and staggered starter. I also measured and made sure I had a 168 tooth flywheel.

The issue I am having is that an offset starter will always bind after 5 or so starts. No matter how much I try to keep it to a paper clips width on the teeth, it keeps binding. I tried the extra grounding trick, and shimming as posted in some other threads to no avail. Take that starter back and put in a new one works great for 5 more starts.
However when I bought the truck, it used the flush bolt pattern starter, and never had this problem. I've brought this up to numerous parts stores and mechanics, but every last one of them come up with the offset starter on their searches, including ac delco. My biggest question is how do I go about finding that flush-mount starter again since all searches come up to the staggered starters, or is it possible a flush-mount 305 will work in this particular case?

[DoubleVision]

Since I`ve already been down this road with starters, I`ll try again. If you`ll notice on your starter theres a round groove on each bolt hole, and the bolts have to have a shank that fits into these grooves on them, there can be no washers on the bolts of any kind,when you install the starter you must make sure the shanks are fitting into these grooves, this is what eliminates the movement of the starter and eliminates binding. after the bolts are snug and in the grooves, step up to a 1/2 inch drive ratchet and tighten them good, this should get rid of the problem. since your starter is a 168 tooth, you have to use the staggerd pattern starter.

[musky2]

RWollf: Ive been having the same problem exactly ! Well you need the staggered starter with that 168 flywheel . I think you may have got mixed up with that. The 153 takes the flush mount. Ive tried everything : shims etc. , work a few tomes and then terrible noise. I thought I had it whipped but it started again. I didnt know there were any bushings for the bolts to go through on the starter holes . Ill have to look into that : it makes sense , anyway it can loosen up it wiil !

[Rwolff]

Thanks for your replies guys!

Changed out the bolts like you recommended and nothing.. think I sulked for the rest of the day... hehe. Now the funny part and may even help you out musky2. Tested my grounds and noticed a real high resistance on the block, so I checked the grounding strap I installed and scraped the rest of the paint off the frame and remounted. Also checked the factory ground and found a little corrosion so I replaced that as well. Checked again and maybe dropped my resistance by 3 ohms.. hmmm Checked the battery and wouldn't you know, had a walmart special 40 amp rating battery. Promptly exited that out of the truck and installed an ac delco 80 amp 5 year battery. checked the resistance and was below 4 ohms! about a 30 ohm drop! turned the key and wouldn't ya know.. fired right up! Guess the moral of the story is you get what you pay for, hehe. thanks again guys.

[Ed ke6bnl]

Originally posted by Rwolff
Thanks for your replies guys!

Changed out the bolts like you recommended and nothing.. think I sulked for the rest of the day... hehe. Now the funny part and may even help you out musky2. Tested my grounds and noticed a real high resistance on the block, so I checked the grounding strap I installed and scraped the rest of the paint off the frame and remounted. Also checked the factory ground and found a little corrosion so I replaced that as well. Checked again and maybe dropped my resistance by 3 ohms.. hmmm Checked the battery and wouldn't you know, had a walmart special 40 amp rating battery. Promptly exited that out of the truck and installed an ac delco 80 amp 5 year battery. checked the resistance and was below 4 ohms! about a 30 ohm drop! turned the key and wouldn't ya know.. fired right up! Guess the moral of the story is you get what you pay for, hehe. thanks again guys.

I had many starting problems them lost the ground completely even with a very tight bolt to the frame. I cleaned the area and put a start washer that is suppose to be use to add electrical contact and the truck starts and restart without a flaw. Ed ke6bnl