1963 Corvette starter nose...which one?

[Michael G.]

Am currently refurbing a starter for my 1963 Corvette. I have observed two styles of bendix housings. One with bolt pattern in alignment, one short bolt, one long bolt. The other housing has a staggered bolt pattern with both mounting bolts the same length. Are these for two different applications? How about some clarity....which is considered correct on the '63. Thanks in advance. Mike #28614

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 Corvette starter nose...which one?

Mike------

The starter nose for ALL 1963 Corvettes is made of aluminum. It uses the "straight across" bolt pattern with 1 "long" and 1 "short" bolt. This configuration starter nose is used for ALL applications which use a 12-3/4" flywheel and ALL 1963 Corvettes used a 12-3/4" flywheel.

The other configuration that you described is used for 14" flywheels. No 1963-65 Corvette ever originally used a 14" flywheel. Consequently, no 1963-65 Corvette ever used this configuration starter nose.

[Michael G.]

Re: 1963 Corvette starter nose...which one?

Thanks Joe. I've observed my '72 LT-1 has the staggered bendix housing with equal length bolts. Would the same application on the '63 apply to the 72' LT-1 as well? Thanks again, Mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 Corvette starter nose...which one?

Mike----

I'm not sure that I understand your question. However, the 1972 LT-1 uses a 14" flywheel and the cast iron starter nose with staggered, "long" starter bolts UNLESS it happens to be a 1972 ZR-1. In that case, it uses the same configuration starter nose as the 1963 Corvette application for all engines.

The starters are different, though, between the 1963 Corvette applications and the 1972 ZR-1 application. That's because the 1963 starters were non-HD ("short" armature and field coils) and the 1972 ZR-1 used the HD starter configuration ("long" armature and field coils). The starter noses were the same, though.

[Michael G.]

Re: 1963 Corvette starter nose...which one?

That's the info I was looking for. ZR-1 wasn't part of the formula but you answered giving me enough information to know my LT-1 has the correct cast iron nose. Appreciate the help on the '63. Mike

[Phil P.]

Re: 1963 Corvette starter nose...which one?

what is the reasoning for gm to put a small clutch and bell housing in a LT1 M22 hot rod ? enlighten us thanks,phil

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 Corvette starter nose...which one?

phil-----

Very simple. The same reason that they used the GM #3858403 bellhousing, 12-3/4" LIGHTWEIGHT flywheel and 10-1/2" clutch for L-88/ZL-1----for a quicker reving engine.

[Phil P.]

Re: 1963 Corvette starter nose...which one?

joe, i kinda figured that but why does'nt the aim call out for that change ? did the eng. assy. come with the clutch installed ? not trying to be a jerk but would the eng. assy. plant already know about a zr1 application down the road ? edjucate me ///or us thank,phil

[Joe L.]

Re: 1963 Corvette starter nose...which one?

PHIL-----

The bellhousing, flywheel and clutch were installed at the engine plants, not St. Louis. Flint engine definitely knew which LT-1's were destined for ZR-1 cars. There were unique suffix codes for the ZR-1 LT-1's. The bellhousing, flywheel and clutch were the primary, if not the only, difference between the ZR-1-destined LT-1's and the rest.

The ZR-1 suffix codes were as follows:

1970---CTV
1971---CGY
1972---CKZ

[Joe L.]

Addendum

By the way, the bellhousing, flywheel, and clutch used for 67-69 L-88 and 1969 ZL-1 was the same as the bellhousing, flywheel and clutch used for 1970-72 ZR-1. However, 71-72 ZR-1 used a friction disc with 26 splines rather than 10 splines used for all earlier applications. Except for that difference, the friction discs were identical.