damn flathead starter alignment

ok, Yes, I have read the threads ... but I just cannot get the damn starter on my 8BA flathead aligned, she was running and all was fine, then all hell broke loose, or so it seems. further words of wisdom? I understand what is wrong, it has me baffled though! oh well, just had to rant, will try again tommorrow.

 

A little more info would be helpful.

Are you sure you have the right starter plate? There is one that puts that starter at an odd angle, for auto maybe.

Rich

 

Do you have the rear mounting braket that gos between starter bolt and oil pan bolt on it.Lots running around without it and it usualy creates starter alments on flatheads.

 

the 59ab flywheel and the 8ba are different .

 

Things I know about that cause what are or at least appear to be alignment problems with flathead starters:

Wrong starter plate for the bell housing. The stamped steel full bell housing uses an angled plate. The rest don't. If the problem existed from the beginning, this is the prime suspect.

The front support for the starter motor is missing. If it was aligned once and isn't aligned now, this is the prime suspect. It is just a little twisted L-shaped gizmo with bolt holes that attach the starter to a pan bolt.

A starter for an automatic transmission car used on a stick shift car or visa versa. I can't remember the issues with this, but they don't interchange. It may have more to do with the mount than the starter.

 

yup, I think it is that front starter plate. everything else is correct.

 

Somebody posted a detailed photo spread on all the late flathead starter plates on the MSN board...I think it was linked here. Maybe someone can dig up a route to that.

 

"Moefuzz" over on the MSN Early V-8 site posted that "extensive" analysis.

 

I don't think the 8BA used the front bracket.

Here's Moe's link:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=183227

 

Yes, the 8BA used them also. There is even a small cut-out on the pan rail for the bracket to clear.

 

Hmmmm...just looked in the '49 book, they did keep the little bracket up front...it is missing on a large percentage of cars out in the world. It's available dirt cheap in repro...
All actual starters for '32-53 221-239-255 flatheads interchange except for automatic trans ones, which has both different mounting and different drive...with different tooth count to boot.
With late engines, either get starter plate and bellhousing from the same car or do some research before collecting loose bits, as there's a jungle of wrong combinations possible.