'66 Starter brace alignment issue

[Kevin B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Not quite sure what you mean by " 2 through bolts." I'm assuming you're not talking about the short and long bolt which is needed to secure the starter onto/in the block? There are two other "bolts" or large screws on the motor housing, looks large enough for a gargantuan sized screwdriver. Is this what you mean by the 2 through bolts?

[Kevin B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

An interesting thought occurred to me today. If I attach the end of the brace to the starter and swing the other end up to the block, the nearest screw that would almost perfectly mate with it is currently used for the 'boomerrang' ignition shielding...
When I re-installed the starter several years ago I also removed and replaced the shielding. I believe I re-attached the shielding correctly but if I used instead a bolt hole meant for the starter that would explain everything. I took pictures several years ago prior to removal. Time to revisit. I get back to you all tomorrow.

[Jeff S.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Sort of like the picture I sent you on May 10?

[Kevin B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

The picture you sent on May 10 looks dipicts a brace very similar to mine, except that yours has a slot on the end where it connects to the starter. Also, I noticed that there were'nt any ignition ('boomerrang') shielding underneath the brace. I will search my digital archives for some old pictures but brace yourself (no pun intended), my engine area in not so clean and shiney.

[Wayne M.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Kevin-----
The big block braces are much shorter. However, there are other small block braces that are similar. You MAY have a small block brace but not the CORRECT small block brace.

\

Kevin -- This tread is making my head ache. We seem to be getting nowhere. We need PICS. And I'm not sure I'm helping by attaching this one, as I can't offer the identity of the "daddy" car of this one. It's too short for the 396/L88 (see Noland's page 427), yet not quite the dimensions shown for small block 3851294 (Noland, page 392). The NOS starter bearing (end cap) is shown as prooof that it can be rotated, but I agree with all others that the potential movement's got to be limited.

[Joe L.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Not quite sure what you mean by " 2 through bolts." I'm assuming you're not talking about the short and long bolt which is needed to secure the starter onto/in the block? There are two other "bolts" or large screws on the motor housing, looks large enough for a gargantuan sized screwdriver. Is this what you mean by the 2 through bolts?

Kevin-----


The through bolts are the 2 long, 1/4" bolts that go through the end plate and thread into the starter nose. These are the bolts that, basically, hold the whole starter together. One of them is just a simple hex head. The other, oriented at the top of the starter as installed, has a 1/4"-20 extension which is where the brace attaches to the starter.

The large screws you described are on the SIDE of the starter frame and are used to retain the shoes which, in turn, retain the field coils.

[Kevin B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

I've found an old pic that was taken before the starter was removed several years ago for some general cleaning and maintenance. I'm going to print out this pic and bring with me into garage to compare then vs. now. I hope all can see this pic, if not please rest assured that all postings have not been in vain as I have learned much and considered alot of options, not to mention rethinking what I've done. I'll not continue with this topic unless requested to follow up.

[Joe L.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

I've found an old pic that was taken before the starter was removed several years ago for some general cleaning and maintenance. I'm going to print out this pic and bring with me into garage to compare then vs. now. I hope all can see this pic, if not please rest assured that all postings have not been in vain as I have learned much and considered alot of options, not to mention rethinking what I've done. I'll not continue with this topic unless requested to follow up.

Kevin-----


From what I can tell, it looks like the right brace for your application.

[Timothy B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Kevin,
Your starter brace looks like the 63 brace shown in my previous picture except someone drilled a small hole for the shield attachment screw but I may be wrong. Wayne's picture is like the brace I purchased when at Carlisle but is approx 1" too short and he seems to confirm that but I thought it's what the 64-67 brace looks like. Now I am confused!

[Harry S.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

I think the 63 brace had only 2 holes. The one for the heat shield was not in a 63.

Harry

[Timothy B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Harry,
I think the 63 starter brace has the two mounting holes (starter and block) plus a hole near the block attachment hole like shown and without the small shield hole. Check out the picture I posted a while back in this thread, there is always the chance mine is not correct but it came with the car. Let me know what you think.

[Harry S.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

I need to leave now for a few days, when I get back on Thursday I'll post a picture of what I believe is a 63 brace and a 64 + brace.

Harry

[Harry S.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

I believe the bottom brace is a 63 brace and the top is a 64+ brace.

Harry

[Kevin B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Joe,

Wanted to try to add some closure to this thread so here's what I did and what worked:
After viewing my pic of the brace/starter when it was attached several years ago I crawled underneath to compare then vs. now. It appears that the brace attachment through bolt is in the same position (rotation wise) as before, although I cannot/did not confirm this. Something odd struck me in regard to the shielding, however. Aside from its looking much cleaner it almost doesn't look like the same part. I compared both lower 'boomerrang' shield to make sure I had the right part installed on the right side so I could only conclude that my attachment of the shielding was somehow 'off center' so to speak. I did remove the shielding several years ago so it's possible I did not put it back on exactly the way I found it. I loosened the shielding's attachment bolts enough to wiggle the shielding aside to allow the brace to gain a foothold into the engine block threadhole. After I got it started I tightened down the shielding as it was not fully seated in one end. (The end nearest the starter is not a closed hole but open ended.) By tightening each brace's bolt/hex nut in alternating fashion I was able to get the brace to 'pop in' where the shielding's indentation is formed. To me it still does not seem like a good fit, but I'm not sure if it all parts on this car were exact perfect fits? I'm now wondering if I have the correct shielding installed, or if my installation is still off in its regard. All I know is that the brace will now mate at both ends and the starter is now secure and working excellent.
Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.
Now, to other car issues...

[Timothy B.]

Re: '66 Starter brace alignment issue

Harry, Thanks for the pictures but I am still not certain that is correct. Below is a photo of a very original 63 showing the brace and bolt. Note a hole in the brace next to where the block mounting hole is. This is what my 63 brace looks like also, and it does not narrow at the top by the block. Your top brace looks like the brace I purchased in Carlisle and it's too short. This picture is upside down but you can see what I am talking about.