Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Starter won't fit????

Ok, I'm going nuts. When the cam moved on my 250, the engine was complete and everything hooked up. I took accessories off it to do the repair and now have the engine back on the car. For the life of me, I can't get the starter to go in that last 1/8". It was in there before.

The only thing I can think of is that the first time the starter went on BEFORE the oil pan (a mid sump pan) and this time I have the pan on and am trying to replace the starter. This is a T5 tranny on a bellhousing from an 84 Camero.

I REALLY, REALLY don't want to have to pull this engine or drop the pan (full of clean oil) and it makes no sense to me that the starter shouldn't fit when it was in there before.

HELP!!!!!

If you can post a pick it might help.
MBHD

Ok, here are three photos.

I thought at first there might be interference with the oil pan but don't see any. Unless you have to lean the starter in from the crankshaft side and the pan won't let me do it. I don't remember if the starter was in BEFORE the pan last time or not. I do remember the pan was a PITA to install before and much easier this time when the motor was on the bench instead of in the car on the lift.


Here is the starter nose. It is the one that came off the car.



Here you can see the gap that won't close. The problem appears to be the center of the nose won't clear the flywheel. I expect if I dropped the pan it would go but Dam I don't want to do that!

Looks like a weird bell housing.
Is it hitting that?
How many teeth is your flywheel?
MBHD

No clue about the cause, but a grinder is always the cure.
Z

kerry,
it looks to me the flywheel is a 168 toth unit. the bell housing is made for a 153 tooth flywheel. are you sure you put on the correct flywheel? is there another one laying in your shop? it could happen in mine. tom

That is why I asked how many teeth is the flywheel,because the starter is for a 153 tooth flywheel or flexplate.

MBHD

I have to agree with those guys on this one.Because that block and starter are for a 153 tooth Flywheel/flex plate & starter.
That block was not set-up for a 168 starter. NOT all L6s were, they all were pretty much set-up for a 153.
BUT the question i have Was this tranny and all On the motor before you had the cam issue?? Sec ? You said you have a center sump pan on that 250? If so I hope the Block was drilled for a center sump dip stick OR the oil pan had mods done to it. Because other wise you won't be able to check your oil level.

It's a 153 tooth flywheel...counted it twice.

YES everything is the same as was on the motor before except for the cam, head, and gaskets (just to be precise )

No it wasn't drilled for a new location and yes the dipstick doesn't touch the oil...dam!

Ok, got it on. I had to die grind a bit. Once it was bolted in I noticed it stood off a little so it wasn't that far off. I think it goes in easier if the pan is off.

Now I just need to take care of the dipstick problem when I next pull the motor. All I'm going to do is check all the mechanicals and get them up to par and then they all come out so I can finish the body and paint.

How many quarts should a mid sump 250 hold anyway?

5qts with filter