Starter Brace on 1956 Engines

[Brooks G.]

Guys, I am still working on my 1956. I am getting somewhat close to completion and have a lot of loose ends to tie up. One such loose end is what sort of bracket is used on the front of starters of 1956 Corvette engines? Also is this bracket different than 1957 and later? A picture sure would be great. Thanks in advance! Brooks Glover (2141)

[John H.]

Re: Starter Brace on 1956 Engines

Guys, I am still working on my 1956. I am getting somewhat close to completion and have a lot of loose ends to tie up. One such loose end is what sort of bracket is used on the front of starters of 1956 Corvette engines? Also is this bracket different than 1957 and later? A picture sure would be great. Thanks in advance! Brooks Glover (2141)

Brooks -

The starter brace doesn't show on the starter installation sheet in the A.I.M. (UPC 6, sheet 4.00, redrawn in July '57), but it does show up as a background item in UPC 12, sheet 10.00 (see scan below). However, that sheet was redrawn in April '57, and we don't know what was on it in 1956. I shot many underside photos of the remarkably-original '56 Powerglide car from Terry's seminar at Kissimmee in 2011, and that starter has no brace (photo also below).


StarterBrace55_61.jpg56VshldRH.JPG

[Brooks G.]

Re: Starter Brace on 1956 Engines

John, thanks for the reply and the pictures. I guess I am still scratching my head as to whether or not '56's had a starter brace or not. I have seen some Classic Chevys that have the brace pictured in your drawing. Eckler's shows a bracket (repro) in their online catalog. It sure couldn't hurt to have one on the starter. That is a lot hanging out there without support. Thanks again! Brooks Glover (2141)

[Dan D.]

Re: Starter Brace on 1956 Engines

1956 starters had the open solenoid linkage, and to my knowledge, 56s did not have the brace. The scan in the previous post from ST-12 has the brace, but also is drawn with the enclosed solenoid linkage which appeared in 1957. Problem with ST-12 is it tries to cover too many years. Even the AIM, at 2 years, does not reflect all the changes between the years. -Dan-

[Bryan H.]

Re: Starter Brace on 1956 Engines

I have an early 1956 and i t do not have a brace. the solenoid is open as well. Bryan Hepper 42470

[Joe L.]

Re: Starter Brace on 1956 Engines

All-----


GM says that for 1956 the brace was only used on passenger cars. However, the strange thing is that they also say a brace (incidentally, different from 1956) was only used for passenger cars in 1957.

[Brooks G.]

Re: Starter Brace on 1956 Engines

Dan, Bryan and Joe, thanks for your replies to my post. I guess I am still scratching my head as to whether or not 1956 Corvettes came with the starter to engine brace. I wonder what happens in judging? This could get interesting.
Brooks Glover (2141)

[Joe L.]

Re: Starter Brace on 1956 Engines

Dan, Bryan and Joe, thanks for your replies to my post. I guess I am still scratching my head as to whether or not 1956 Corvettes came with the starter to engine brace. I wonder what happens in judging? This could get interesting.
Brooks Glover (2141)

Brooks-----


If it were me, I'd install the brace whether or not it was originally installed. GM did not add this brace because everything worked just as well without it. Plus, I know, for sure, that these braces are VERY important on later engines and I do not see why they would be any less important for earlier.