[NEW64OWNER]

Is there a difference between 64 and 65-up bellhousings as far as bolting up the starter? Same-different, not talking numbers.

[b-man]

No difference, the starter bolts to the block the same way on all '64 and later blocks.

[NEW64OWNER]

I got a call on my GTO and the fellow asked me if it had orig engine and I said no, it has a 66 engine . He made a comment that the newer engine had a better starter, I was confused by this comment so that's why I ask.

[JC455]

64 Non-GTO engines had a bellhousing-mounted starter. That's what he's referring to.

[b-man]

All '64 blocks will accept a block-mountrd starter, even if they did not originally come with one.

We are in the A-body forum, so B-bodys really aren't part of this discussion and they're the only ones that had bellhousing mounted starters.

I know Pete's book says non-GTO blocks differ in starter mounting but that's incorrect.

[NEW64OWNER]

Originally Posted by JC455

64 Non-GTO engines had a bellhousing-mounted starter. That's what he's referring to.

I see, that's most likely it.

After 64 did the "B"body engines still use the bell housing mounted starter or did all the engines go to block mount?

[tom s]

all engines after 64 used block mounted starters.Tom

[Tom Vaught]

Pete did a tremendous job on his books but every publication had a few "errors" as you can't possibly know everything about every combination.
I am learning more body stuff about my 64 GTO every day I read the forums.

Tom V.

[John V.]

Not sure what the guy meant, but I don't think the bellhousing mount starters themselves were inherently inferior to the block mounted starters from an electric motor torque standpoint.

I believe Delco made a variety of starters that were more or less powerful based on the needs of the engine, I suspect primarily the compression and displacement.

The '64 GTO 389 and '64 326HO (high compression 4 bbl version of the 326 Tempest option) both got the same 1107294 block mounted starter.

I am no expert on starters or electric motors in general.

But I believe the '65 GTO got a more powerful starter than was used in '64.

They may have gotten even more powerful with each successive model year. So perhaps that is what the guy meant?

Didn't the '64 421HO get a block mounted starter also?

[b-man]

Since the '64 421 HO was only available in the B-body cars they used a bellhousing mounted starter, but that doesn't mean a block mounted starter can't be used if you plant that 421 in an A-body.

[tom s]

Bart,you would have to change the flywheel and bell to use the block mounted starter.Tom

[b-man]

Here are two blocks from 1964, both have the starter mounting holes drilled and tapped.

1964 389 block:



1964 421 block:



1964 326 that's the original powerplant for my Le Mans convert, you can't see it from this angle but it does have the holes to mount the starter:

[pfilean]

Didn't the '64 421HO get a block mounted starter also?

I thought the 64 B body with the Slim Jim got the bell housing mount but manual trans got block mount. But I'm not sure if 421 HO even got the Slim Jim. Maybe they had to get manual.

[tom s]

421HOs were avail with the auto and ALL 64 big cars got the bell mounted starter.Tom