Well....started my rebuilt engine and everything was fine, or so I thought. Roseanna Danna (saturday night live) was right....it's always something. The cast iron nose of the starter that goes into the bellhousing broke off for some reason and is now in the bottom of the bellhousing. It is an original, rebuilt, correct dated starter I bought from Goat Hill Classics. I'm hoping I can fish the broken pieces out with a coat hanger with a magnet taped on the end. Anyone heard of this before?...It was properly installed and secured, including the brace. If anyone has a better suggestion on how to retrieve the broken pieces from the bellhousing, please let me know. (And I thought my car was done)
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Re: '67 STARTER NOSE BROKEN IN BELLHOUSING
just remove the tin bottom flywheel cover. did the engine "kick back" while you were trying to start it as this will do danage to the starter. also did you use the "kunrled shank bolts" in the starter to block holes for a tight fit? -
Re: '67 STARTER NOSE BROKEN IN BELLHOUSING
Rob------
You will need to salvage a replacement nose from another starter. This particular nose was GM discontinued quite a few years ago.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: '67 STARTER NOSE BROKEN IN BELLHOUSING
No kickback during start, and it was installed with the original, correct length knurled shank bolts. I removed the bellhousing inspection cover, but the pieces fell down in behind the clutch and flywheel. I don't see any way to retrieve them. I guess I'll have to dissconnect the bellhousing enough to let the pieces fall out...Comment
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Re: '67 STARTER NOSE BROKEN IN BELLHOUSING
Use a breaker bar and socket on the balancer bolt and turn the engine over by hand. That should allow the starter pieces to drop out. If the balancer bolt is hard to get at use a flywheel tool or a screw driver in the flywheel teeth and turn the engine over by hand that way.
Good luck
RobComment
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Re: '67 STARTER NOSE BROKEN IN BELLHOUSING
I turned the engine over by hand, but no luck finding the pieces. I certainly don't want to have to separate the bellhousing after finally finishing the car, but I'm not sure what other options I have...Comment
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Re: '67 STARTER NOSE BROKEN IN BELLHOUSING
Rob,
The broken pieces are not on the bottom of the bellhousing. I guess they are wedged in the bellhousing somewhere. The engine turns over easily with the breaker bar, but no pieces fell to the bottom. I know they're in there, but I certainly don't want to pull the transmission and/or bellhousing to get to them.Comment
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Re: '67 STARTER NOSE BROKEN IN BELLHOUSING
Do you happen to know what particular year starters would have the nose I need. I assume I need one from a big block starter?Comment
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Re: '67 STARTER NOSE BROKEN IN BELLHOUSING
The only thing I can think of is to un-bolt the bell housing from the engine, then slide the bell housing with the trans BACK wards to get at it.Not easy , but no other way I can think to do it.Comment
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Re: '67 STARTER NOSE BROKEN IN BELLHOUSING
Rob-----
No, big block has nothing to do with it---the same starter nose was used on many small blocks, too. Basically, this nose was used for all 66-82 with 14" flywheel. That included 66-68 with big block and manual transmission and all 69-81 with manual transmission. Many 68-81 with THM used it, too. It was not limited to use on Corvettes, either. Most 66-82 Chevrolet models with 14" flywheel used it, too. Definitely NOT rare, at all.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: '67 STARTER NOSE BROKEN IN BELLHOUSING
Rob,
With the inspection cover removed, there is almost no room between the flywheel and the bellhousing, only the small area where the starter is installed. The pieces would have to be really small to come out the bottom. I haven't tried pushing the clutch in a couple of times, in case the pieces happen to be wedged on the fork, I'll try that tonight. I can't believe there are no traces of the broken parts in the bottom of the bellhousing.Comment
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Re: '67 STARTER NOSE BROKEN IN BELLHOUSING
Joe,
Thanks, I found a shop near my house that has the nose. I'll have them install the new piece for me. I wish I knew what caused the damage to avoid it again. Thanks again...Comment
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