Starter nose for #1107365 starter (68 BB)

[Charles F.]

Hi all:

I just purchased the above starter, fully rebuilt to show specs. The starter nose is cast iron. I checked it against p. 499 of Corvettes by the Numbers and it is the fifth design, not appropriate for a 1107365 (which takes the fourth design). [Per Colvin's book, the fifth design is for 1108338, 1108400, 1108418]. I have pointed this out to the vender, forwarded photos and am awaiting a definative response. His initial response was that Colvin's book is not always correct and that he did not know there were different designs for the cast iron nose. The rebuild was to be to NCRS judging specs. My question: does it matter for judging purposes ? I am amazed by the wealth of knowledge on this site, no matter how obscure the question. Thanks in advance.

Chuck

[Dick W.]

Re: Starter nose for #1107365 starter (68 BB)

In section 4, of the Chassis Section of the 1968-1968 Technical Information and Judging Guide, it shows that the cast iron nose would be correct. It does not list any specifics for the nose. The manual is one of the "must have" items in your reference library. It is available online at the NCRS store on this web site

[Charles F.]

Re: Starter nose for #1107365 starter (68 BB)

Dick:

Thanks for the response. I have the Third Edition guide and it is a great resource. Since the Colvin book differentiated, and since the guide is a guide, I didn't know if real-world judging made a distinction. Thanks.

Chuck

[Joe L.]

Re: Starter nose for #1107365 starter (68 BB)

Chuck-----

I completely and totally agree with your vendor.

First of all, I have several NOS GM #1108400 starters [none for sale] which were manufactured over the 1969 to late 80's time period. None of these have the starter nose identified as the "5th design" in Colvin's book (which also states that this nose was used for the 1108400 starter). All of the starters described have what is identified in the book as the "4th design".

Second, the original starter from my 1969, a GM #1108338, has what is shown as the "4th design". The book states that the 1108338 should have the "5th design".

I have several NOS examples of each and every cast iron starter nose used over the 1968 to 1981 period [none for sale]. Each part number was supercessive to the previous and all are interchangeable. NONE of these are configured like the "5th design" shown in the book; all are configured like the "4th design". Since there are no starter nose part numbers that I don't have, I can't figure out how this "5th design" fits into the picture.

I do have a few starter noses which are configured like the "5th design". I acquired all of these as part of commercially rebuilt starter assemblies, so there is no way to know what starter part number that they were originally part of (as I've mentioned many times before, commercially rebuilt starters are stripped down to individual parts and re-assembled randomly; rarely, if ever, does the frame remain united with the original nose or other major components). Actually, I don't even know if these "5th design" starter noses are even of GM/Delco manufacture. They could be aftermarket pieces. As I mentioned above, they are not like any of the known-GM starter noses, all of which I have.

Notwithstanding the above, I don't think that the precise configuration of the starter nose is judged, anyway. Even if it were, the features that distiguish the "4th design" from the "5th design" are virtually indiscernable with the starter mounted on the engine.

In closing I would just like to offer that Colvin's books are absolutely excellent works. There are a few chapters that are a bit "weak" and this starter chapter is among them. However, I do applaud Alan for including the starter chapter; there is much useful information there, despite a few possible inaccuracies.

[Charles F.]

Re: Starter nose for #1107365 starter (68 BB)

Joe:

Thanks so much for your comprehensive response. You are a fount of information ! I told the vender that I no longer have any issue with the starter nose. Thanks again.

Chuck