hey guys, i have a 305ci im going to use for my 80 camaro until i rebuild the 350ci. Now, i have a th400 tranny and the torque would not bolt up to the plate so i had to replace the plate, now my starter (305) dont fit. i baught a starter for a 350ci but there are way to many shims needed so i wont trust it. Should i get a starter for a 400ci now?

my car prob wont be on the road for a bit but i would still like to know.

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

thanks

Joe

 

How many teeth on the new flex plate? There's more than one 350 starter. Does your new starter have bolts straight across, or staggered?

 

i got the plate used, im not sure how many teeth. the plate fit the torque so i just put it in. i'll have to count them and get back to you (not at the garage right now). but i do have the starter here i took off (305), here i just took these pics of it.

 

I think you might have a couple problems. The 305 is an external balance engine, meaning the flexplate needs to be counter balanced. If the one you put on isn't balanced, you can buy a balance plate that bolts between the flexplate and crank. Don't run the engine without it. Your starter is the "straight" mount bolt pattern, which is used with the 153 tooth flexplate. If you put on the 168 tooth flexplate, then you would need to use the angled mount starter. The problem is, your block probably isn't dual drilled, which is going to make mounting the starter a pita. When trying to line the starter up to the block now, does it whack the flexplate? If so, you have the larger diameter 168 tooth, but need the 153 tooth flexplate instead.

 

im gonna go check it out tonight but im sure the flex plate was a balanced one, it had extra pieces of metal factory welded on it. not sure but i think the block was dual drilled? i'll get back with the more info later on tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks
Joe

 

All flex plates are balanced, but you need to be sure the one you use is balanced for the 305, not just balanced. That's definitely the 153 tooth starter, so as Camaro 69 said, it might be impossible to use a staggered pattern starter that fits a 168 without having the staggered holes in the block.
You may have to go back to your 153 to use with that starter, and possibly have the old flex plate drilled to match the new tranny pattern, if it's big enough to allow that.

 

hey guys, i went to the garage earlier and it is a 168 tooth on the motor now and it was a 158 i took off.

Heres some pics i took

this is the old plate


This is the new starter (350)




And my block



So do i look for another starter? i dont think i can drill the old plate (pretty sure not 100% that the torque is to big). i'm stumped, i don't know.
The starter would work, but i have to use to many shims (almost 1/2" of shim).

 

Good news #1, your block is drilled for both style starters. Good news #2, that is a counterweight I see on the 168 tooth flexplate.
But your new starter should work with the flexplate that's on the engine.
What part of the starter is in the way of the flexplate?

 

the teeth touch the housing on the starter.

 

Is it hitting where I have it circled?