Shimming a starter required?

[John H.]

Re: Shimming a starter required?

I wonder if never using shims at the factory caused quality issues. Maybe there was a rework process to add shims for cars that had a problem?

If there was a writeup for "noisy starter", it went up on a hoist and the starter was changed, and the starter went back to Delco-Remy for credit.

[Jim T.]

Re: Shimming a starter required?

If there was a writeup for "noisy starter", it went up on a hoist and the starter was changed, and the starter went back to Delco-Remy for credit.

Reading my 1996 Corvette's service manual (book 2 of 2 Engine and Transmission) I saw today a picture on page 6-231 for starter motor replacement a pictured shim between the block and starter, none of the three mated together in the picture. It says in the narrative remove any shims and also replace any shims. I do not know if my 1996 original owner Corvette's starter is shimmed or not. Will have to look. Actually the picture I mentioned shows the long shim with holes for the two starter bolts and there is a very short piece that appears to me would fit on the pointed end of the long shim or it could be a shim for one bolt position.

[John H.]

Re: Shimming a starter required?

Reading my 1996 Corvette's service manual (book 2 of 2 Engine and Transmission) I saw today a picture on page 6-231 for starter motor replacement a pictured shim between the block and starter, none of the three mated together in the picture. It says in the narrative remove any shims and also replace any shims. I do not know if my 1996 original owner Corvette's starter is shimmed or not. Will have to look. Actually the picture I mentioned shows the long shim with holes for the two starter bolts and there is a very short piece that appears to me would fit on the pointed end of the long shim or it could be a shim for one bolt position.

Jim -

I'm talking about the 60's-70's - don't know what they did in the 90's.

[Mark E.]

Re: Shimming a starter required?

John,

You know what they did in the 90s- Corvette quality increased with a focus on leaks, creaks, fit, finish... and starter shims!

Oh yeah, GM continued to lose market share to the Japanese, lost billions and they almost went bankrupt...

I remember an analyst saying back in the '90s that GM could have bought Toyota, Nissan and Honda outright- all three!- with the amount of money Roger Smith spent on still-born "lights out" automation technology and the myriad of reorganizations.

[Ray G.]

Re: Shimming a starter required?

Hello;
In addition to my previous posts on this subject, I don't recall shims on starters in the '60s on Chevrolet vehicles. But Chevrolet/GM dealer service departments rebuilt starters, consequently the original drive end housing was reused.
I do recall shims on '50s Chevrolet with cast iron bell housing standard shift cars.
I thinking shimming starters came along when aftermarket drive end housing came into the market.
Hope this helps.
Ray