Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

[Alan S.]

Re: Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

Hi Patrick,
I was looking for the ignition harness ground wire on the long mounting bolt for the starter.
Is it hidden by the exhaust pipe?, or at another location for 72??
Regards,
Alan

[Paul O.]

Re: Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

The caulk was used for a very long period of time but there were 2 different types one was between the starter and solenoid which was probably applied at the Delco plant. The other was when starter assembly was installed at the St. Louis plant and Bowling Green. I have seen the 1st and 2nd caulking types on original cars that I have viewed from 1968 till 1972 and when I am lead to the dark side 1973 till 1982 the same was found. Looking at my 1971 AIM page L187 UPC6 Sheet B2 shows the installation procedure for the caulk and the small area where no sealer is used to allow drainage. The caulk or sealer used at the starter and solenoid is a different product then the one used at the assembly plant much more durable then the caulk used around the starter. Could the sealer or caulk be missing or not installed yes it could but that is not typical factory production. As Patrick has stated the caulk at the starter and bell housing dust shield on original cars has the same appearance as 3M strip caulk. Hope this helps.

[Paul O.]

Re: Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

Mike Treece sent me an excellent photos of the black caulk around the starter and shield and also of the sealer (different color) at the starter and solenoid from a 50 mile 78 Pace car. Then the second one from another Pace car also 50 miles or so no caulk and the sealer has a blacker hue.

[Joe L.]

Re: Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

Mike Treece sent me an excellent photos of the black caulk around the starter and shield and also of the sealer (different color) at the starter and solenoid from a 50 mile 78 Pace car. Then the second one from another Pace car also 50 miles or so no caulk and the sealer has a blacker hue.

Paul-----

Both of these look to me like they have both the sealer at the solenoid-starter nose interface and the "caulk" at the starter-to-flywheel cover interface. However, in the first photo it looks to me like the starter was originally painted black and, likely, the sealer was painted, too. In the second photo it looks like the starter was never painted and, thus, the sealer remains natural (cream) colored.

[Paul O.]

Re: Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

Joe

I see what you are saying and could be the color change on the sealer just as a side note most if not all starters by 1978 were not painted but you never know.

[Paul O.]

Re: Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

Mike sent me another photo of a barn find unpainted 78 starter with black sealant at starter and solenoid. Plus the black caulk at the starter and dust shield cover.

[Joe L.]

Re: Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

Mike sent me another photo of a barn find unpainted 78 starter with black sealant at starter and solenoid. Plus the black caulk at the starter and dust shield cover.

Paul------


Then I'd say that different color sealers were used because one of the ones you showed above was clearly a "cream" color and this one is clearly black. It would probably be impossible to say what color sealer any particular car should have.

[Ralph P.]

Re: Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

Would you find this also on 67's ?

[Joe L.]

Re: Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

Would you find this also on 67's ?

Ralph------


Yes.

[Alan D.]

Re: Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

As a reference for the C2 guys - see Section 6 sheet A/B (my sheet number is missing) Good view in 64AIM.

[Dan P.]

Re: Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

would this be found on a 1957

[John H.]

Re: Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

would this be found on a 1957

Dan -

There's no notation in the Assembly Manual showing any type of sealer for the starter installation - all C1 starters (except '62 Powerglides) bolted solid to the front of the bellhousing, not to the block.

[James W.]

Re: Starter and caulk seal between starter and flywheel backing plate?

The 1965 AIM calls out a sealant application at the gap around the starter nose and flywheel cover with specific instructions to keep the drain hole at the low point of the starter nose clear of sealant. I know it is not a judged item or called out in the 1965 judging manual but I've applied 3M strip caulking in this location on the '65 that I am restoring.


Regards,

James West