Mark,...Last night I thought I was going to just swap the nose from the early starter to a heavy duty Delco.... guess what??? The pinion teeth are longer on the newer style Delco bendix. ...NBD right, just swap pinions(bendix)??? NOT so fast... the GD shaft is longer and lock ring on end is in different position because the of shaft and pinion length!!! GRRRRR...
Unless... you can remove the shaft from the armature(dont think so) and swap shaft or cut new lock groove and shorten shaft(not mandatory it would just stick out the end @1/4") its not as simple as converting a non hd modern delco to HD. The GD early nose sits with @ 1/4" gap when dropped in place of modern nose if you dont change the pinion stop lock ring groove position.
GOOD news though,...the early pinion mesh/diameter and tooth count is same as modern Delco... which I already knew when I tested the starter on my adapter with a common Pontiac flexplate.
Again... IMI
http://www.hitorque.com/default.asp has a high power mini that fits 61-63 and uses offset bolt pattern vs straight across but otherwise will work for what you want to do. Butler and PY and iirc Ames carries this starter... Probably others.
...OR RobbMC mini for Toronado
http://www.robbmcperformance.com/pro...o_starter.html or Eldorado
http://www.robbmcperformance.com/pro...rter.html(same part # as Toronado)
...
infinite clocking,
same 3.25" register hole, and straight across bolt pattern.
This Buick "nailhead" starter looks like same offset bolt pattern as 61-64 bell mount Pontiac starter flange...
http://www.robbmcperformance.com/pro...d_starter.html . Offset bolts looks to make R+R simpler imo.
Doesnt say if 3.25"(3.245) register but a phone call would verify that.
I've been busy... I did try this alternative on for size... the common mopar starter drive(pinion) DOES NOT mesh with GM flywheel. I'm borrowing an early hemi starter tomorrow that looks promising fit wise but I see no advantage at all to using one of them over the early Pontiac starters. In other words the "normal" Mopar starter is NOT going to work without crazy custom work and the Early hemi one is longer/heavier but might work if you just happen to have one laying around.
