'66 Starter brace alignment issue

[Kevin B.]

Folks,

Just recently had my starter rebuilt and after attaching to engine with the two hex bolts the support brace bracket won't align. Car is '66 327-cid. I thought I had an incorrect starter brace already on the car (as I'd discovered in years past some parts installed by previous restorer, etc., came from non-1966 model year) and went to mid-year corvette supply catalogue and discovered that there is only one starter brace for my engine, year 64-67, so buying a new, replacement brace doesn't look like it would solve the problem. Several years back when I removed the starter (for other undercarriage work) and replaced I remembered having a difficult time with the alignment of the brace bolts, but not as bad as this time. The 'boomerrang' sparkplug wire shielding appears correctly installed and the indentation in the shielding appears made for the starter's brace, however, the hold-down bolt on the end of the starter's motor which attaches to the brace is ~10-20 degrees off rotation. Could it be possible that the starter rebuild shop inadvertently rotated something so that now the brace's bolt at the motor is now off alignment? I did have the shop dissassemble the motor, refurbish the guts, and install new solenoid. Is it possible to have this corrected? The part number of the starter is 'correct' for my car's year and application. Anyone else have this issue?

[Timothy B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Kevin,
If you loosen the two starter back cover bolts I bet you can turn the housing to make the extension bolt straight then snug them again. This should make the brace fit if I understand your problem. If the extension is still off then the long bolt is bent a little and you can remove it and straighten.

[Jeff S.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Kevin

There is a differenct brace for big block applications -- they look similar, but will not interchange. As Tim says, perhaps the starter rebuilder clocked the housing wrong, thus moving the extension bolt to an incorrect location. Photo below is '66/327 starter & brace without the solenoid debris shield installed.

[Timothy B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Jeff,
I like that fusable link, what guage wire did you use, and did you cut the black wire to splice? I need to do this to my 63.

[Jeff S.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Tim

I used a 14 GA fusable link. I cut the terminals off the 10 GA red & 20 GA black, stripped the insulation back about 1/2" and rolled the conductor strands together. Made my connection to the 14 GA fusable link via a nylon terminal strip segment.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103231&cp=2032058.2032231.2032289&parentPage=family

(Cut one of the segments off with a utility knife) This seemed to be the cleanest way I could figure out for joining the wires with the link. It's nice and sturdy, and more secure than a big crimp connector which would have >10 GA worth of wires on one end & the 14 on the other. You gain 6-8" of service loop with the link wiring, so the terminal strip can be tucked away behind the solenoid debris shield.

[Wayne M.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Kevin
There is a differenct brace for big block applications -- they look similar, but will not interchange. As Tim says, perhaps the starter rebuilder clocked the housing wrong, thus moving the extension bolt to an incorrect location. Photo below is '66/327 starter & brace without the solenoid debris shield installed.

There are 3 different C2 starter braces; 327 with 153 tooth flywheel (small bellhousing); 396/427 (L88) with 153-t; and 427 with 168-tooth flywheel and big bellhousing. Long Island, for one, carries all three versions.

Since the long bolts thread into the nose at only 2 locations, I'm doubtful that one could clock (even slightly) the front bearing/cover assy without ill effects.

Jeff -- is that slot on the starter end of your brace factory configuration ?

Too bad Kevin couldn't post a picture to help in analyzing the situation.

[Jeff S.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

"Jeff -- is that slot on the starter end of your brace factory configuration ?"

Wayne

As far as I know it is. I didn't modify it in any way -- lines up nicely make installation relatively easy. Perhaps it is a service replacement by PO, if it should have a hole vs. a slot?

[Joe L.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

There are 3 different C2 starter braces; 327 with 153 tooth flywheel (small bellhousing); 396/427 (L88) with 153-t; and 427 with 168-tooth flywheel and big bellhousing. Long Island, for one, carries all three versions.

Since the long bolts thread into the nose at only 2 locations, I'm doubtful that one could clock (even slightly) the front bearing/cover assy without ill effects.

Jeff -- is that slot on the starter end of your brace factory configuration ?

Too bad Kevin couldn't post a picture to help in analyzing the situation.

Wayne-----


I think the brace pictured is a GM #354353 which is a SERVICE brace for 1963-68 small block with 153 tooth flywheel.

1963-68 small blocks used 2 different braces. 1963-E64 used GM #3816511. L64-68 (and 70-72 ZR-1) used brace GM #3851294. In February, 1975 it became GM #354353 for SERVICE. I think the 354353 is the one with the slot on one end. I don't think think the 3816511 and 3851294 used the slot. I don't know how the latter two were otherwise different.

[Timothy B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Jeff,
Thanks for the info on the fusable link. This first picture is a 1963 starter brace and the second picture is a brace I purchased at Carlisle for my 67 but it's approx 1" to short when bolted to the starter. The Paragon repro shield fits nicely and I think this is what the 64-67 brace looks like but I don't know what this particular brace fits.

[Kevin B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

This picture hits the nail on the head!
If I attach the starter's brace at the engine block side I cannot even get close to attaching the other end of brace on starter motor.

Which bolts do I loosen or remove to rotate the end bolts? Do I need to remove the starter from vehicle? Is this something that I should have the starter shop correct?

[David D.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Jeff,
Thanks for the info on the fusable link. This first picture is a 1963 starter brace and the second picture is a brace I purchased at Carlisle for my 67 but it's approx 1" to short when bolted to the starter. The Paragon repro shield fits nicely and I think this is what the 64-67 brace looks like but I don't know what this particular brace fits.

Tim...I sent you a PM about 2nd starter bracket. Will it fit a '64 Small Block?

[Clem Z.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

This picture hits the nail on the head!
If I attach the starter's brace at the engine block side I cannot even get close to attaching the other end of brace on starter motor.

Which bolts do I loosen or remove to rotate the end bolts? Do I need to remove the starter from vehicle? Is this something that I should have the starter shop correct?

you can not "clock" those bolts as they are fixed in the end of the starter that bolts to the block

[Joe L.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

you can not "clock" those bolts as they are fixed in the end of the starter that bolts to the block

clem-----


Yes, I agree. There might be a very small amount of movement possible, though. However, I don't think it will be enough to make much difference with respect to fitment of the starter brace. I expect the wrong brace is the culprit here.

[Kevin B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Clem & Joe,

If this is the wrong brace why does a supply manual suggest only one type of brace for my 327cid engine for years 64-67? Are you then suggesting that if the year of brace I currently have is correct then it is for a different size engine? How about a totally different car?
This still doesn't explain why the bolts are SO FAR off alignment that I cannot possibly get the brace on when BEFORE removal and rebuild I at least had both ends attached.

[Edward B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Kevin: Are you sure the starter you received is the same one you sent for rebuild or could there have been a substitution from the shop's stock?