69 starter caulking

[Greg L.]

In regards to the caulking that sealed the solenoid to the starter nose...was it a black silicon type of sealant or something else?

Was it only in the gap where the tab on the solinoid goes into or was it all around the mating line between the starter nose and solinoid?

Was it applied before the solinoid was installed or after?

Thanks.

Greg Linton
#45455

[Jack H.]

Re: 69 starter caulking

I don't understand your reference to the stater solenoid... The AIM only calls out a pre-assembled starter (the solenoid is already installed) for add-to to the engine.

There IS a bead of 'cement' called out in a separate detail view which is there to plug the gap between the starter nose and the engine splash shield. This cement is nothing more than rope caulk.

But, tell us where in the AIM you're seeing anything referencing the solenoid on the starter motor...

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 starter caulking

Greg-----

Some sort of sealer was used on the interface between the starter nose and solenoid when the units were originally assembled at the Delco-Remy manufacturing plant. It dries to a very hard, plastic-like material. It may be something like Permatex hardening-type sealer. It was definitely not silicone RTV. For one thing, that had not been invented yet. For another thing, the sealer sets up WAY harder than silicone. If you want to use a sealer on this interface, I'd use silicone, though.

[Greg L.]

Re: 69 starter caulking

Thanks guys, I'm more concerned with it looking correct than actual sealing so I'll try and find a Permatex product that looks right.

Jack, sorry but I should have said where I got this info from. It's on page 76 of the 68-69 TIM&JG, Solenoid and Heat Shield section.

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 starter caulking

Greg-----

There is usually very little, if any, sealer that can be seen around the PERIMETER of the solenoid-to-starter nose interface. What can be seen IF ONE REALLY TRIES when installed on the car, is a small "blob" of sealer at the bottom, between the solenoid and the starter frame. This is where some of the sealer must have "run down to" after the unit was assembled.