Looking for some clarity... I just finished an engine swap on my 68, swapping from the 307 to a 350 (I believe a 1978 version). I left the original powerglide in the car, as nothing was wrong with it, and used the starter and flexplate from the 350. Everything seemed to bolt right up, but since thenthe starter and flexplate have destroyed the teeth on each other. Is there some secret part I'm not aware of to make this all work right, or should I just be able to get a 350 starter and flexplate and get her back on the road? A mechanic I trust seems to think this is a difficult conversion and will require a special adapter/flywheel/etc. Any help you guys can offer would be much appreciated! Very frustrating results for my first Chevy project!
Thanks ... Clint

 

[X(][>:][8D][:@][][:-][&o][&:] since it would appear you used the original starter and flexplate from the 350 the possibility of tooth count mismatch is less likely than the need for a starter alignment. GM did have 2 or 3 different tooth counts on the flexplates but since you stated you used the working combo from the 350 the trans shouldnt have made any difference. nice thing about GM almost everything bolts to everything else without mods or special parts so your combo should work. my question to you is did the 350 starter/flexplate work properly prior to installation?? could somebody have thwown starter/flexplate onto the motor to sell it to you and was not a proven working combo?? may just need starter alignment with shims(these can be purchased in the help section of most auto parts stores) as for the proper procedure to do this id refer to a service manual or if you cant locate one i could walk you through it. try to find a good spot on the flexplate and align it with the starter then using a small hook pull the bendix(teeth) out of the starter to engage with the flexplate. is the fit tight, barely contacts or a good deep teeth engagement without binding let us know kurt

 

Kurt, Thanks for the quick reply! I assumed the starter and flexplate on the engine were a match, but you may be right on target with the guy bolting something on just to get it sold. When I was first working around getting it to line up, I ran through the shims, but it seemed to be moving the starter the wrong way, and I couldn't find any real way to get it closer than not shimmed. Tooth count never dawned on me, but it makes sense. At any rate, the teeth on the starter and flexplate are both worthless at this point, so I'm looking to replace the pair. Sounds like if I just buy an appropriate count starter and flexplate, all should bolt right up and go well. Now if I just had the car up here with me.....grrr.

 

Hi Kurt I'm also doing an engine swap I also have a power glide, so if my starter and flexplate are good I should be able to use them?
Thanks...Gary

 

You just replied to a 5 yr old post, so I bet he might not reply.
If your starter and flexplate are good, and the new engine has the same bolt pattern for the starter and flexplate, then it will work fine. Since you didn't mention what engine you're installing, or what year the engine is, or what year and size the old engine is, then it's going to be impossible to say for sure. Details.