[53texponcho]

I have a sort of problem with the bellhousing or starter. .I have 2 bellhousings but neither one give the starter enough clearance and the starter will jam in the flywheel. The flywheel is a 55 176 tooth 14 5/8" unit, the starter is the correct one for 55 (I have 2 of theses and a 56) all do the same thing and jam. I have 2 bellhousings on dated late 54 part #518148 and the other dated 55 part # 521577. Some where I am not getting something right and really need some help as this is holding up my project. I checked the Pontiac part numbers book and it only shows bellhousing part #520283 for 55 and #521617 for 56 & 57. I have to have the wrong something but what??? Someone needs to tell what is going on.

[Jack Gifford]

As I replied to you (via Barcak's e-mail), I have trouble imagining what the problem could be. Can you be more specific than "jams"- does it appear that the centerlines (of crankshaft and starter) are too close together? Or do the fore/aft positions of the starter gear and flywheel appear wrong? When you say "jams", is that from powering-up the starter or from trying to manually operate the solenoid lever to engage the gears? Are the starter gears the normal 9-tooth?

Since it sounds like the correct parts, how about looking at oddball possibilities? Are the two block-to-bellhousing dowels in place and in good shape? Do the block and bellhousing fit right tight together everywhere? Is the engine (or shortblock) completely assembled, so that the crank is held exactly centered in the main bearings?

[53texponcho]

Jack,
I went thought all that already which makes me believe the bell housing is not right. I've had 2 different flywheels one aluminum Schiefer and one stock cast. The dowels are good and tight fitting to the piont that I have to tap the bell housing with a rubber hammer to geke it seat flush. I have attached a picture of the spacing from the gear to the flywheel. By jams I mean it actually sticks into the flywheel so it jams the gear teeth aand I have to unbolt the starter to get it to release. The engine I just rebuilt and it was originally attached to a hydramatic trans. all 3 starters are 9 tooth gears and they all do the same thing which make me believe it can only be the bellhousing, since both of the bell housing I have do the same thing.

Originally Posted by pontiac jack

As I replied to you (via Barcak's e-mail), I have trouble imagining what the problem could be. Can you be more specific than "jams"- does it appear that the centerlines (of crankshaft and starter) are too close together? Or do the fore/aft positions of the starter gear and flywheel appear wrong? When you say "jams", is that from powering-up the starter or from trying to manually operate the solenoid lever to engage the gears? Are the starter gears the normal 9-tooth?

Since it sounds like the correct parts, how about looking at oddball possibilities? Are the two block-to-bellhousing dowels in place and in good shape? Do the block and bellhousing fit right tight together everywhere? Is the engine (or shortblock) completely assembled, so that the crank is held exactly centered in the main bearings?

[Jack Gifford]

You didn't say whether the "jammed" situation in the picture is the result of manually moving the solenoid lever or of trying to run the starter- ?

Unfortunately, the picture is too dark to discern exactly what the "jam" consists of. It doesn't appear that the starter and flywheel are too close together, though. I tried to gain some perspective by printing out your picture and viewing one of my starters from the same angle. But I didn't go to the barn to get a bellhousing.

Were the teeth on a manual flywheel a lot wider than the Hydramatic? I don't have a manual flywheel to look at, but the teeth on a Hydramatic flywheel are only about 3/8" wide. Is that a Pontiac flywheel?

[53texponcho]

It actually sticks into the flywheel when I energize the solenoid with the battery. I have a 55 GMC flywheel that was from the Pontiac engine that they used in 55, when they were putting Pontiac engines in the GMC pickups and trucks. It measured exactly the same as the aluminum Schieffer flywheel I had as far as height, diameter, ring gear and offset of the flange to the crankshaft. the part number on the flywheel is 2331205 and I was able to verify that it is a 55 flywheel.

[Jack Gifford]

Is the solenoid lever "out in the open" like my '57/58 starter? If so, try manually moving the starter gear back slowly, so you can observe exactly what is wrong with the meshing. As I said, it doesn't seem that their centers are too close together.

Looking at your picture, I notice how different the ring gear teeth look from my '57/58 Hydramatic flywheels. On mine, the tips of the teeth are about .080" thick, with about .180" space between the tips. Maybe just due to the fuzziness of the picture, but your ring gear teeth appear much thicker than mine.

[53texponcho]

Ok, here's what happening. Now with the correct bell housing and my original starter she now cranks like a dream. It made my day when I put it all together yesterday and it cranked right over. My only remaining problem is a small one now. I need to have my flywheel drilled for a 10 inch clutch. The GMC flywheel is drill for an 11 inch clutch which I bought and it's too large for the bellhousing. I had a 10 pressure plate and disc so I'll have to take it to a machine shop and have it drilled.

[Jack Gifford]

Umm... this thread seems to be missing the punch line. Any more details about the "right" and "wrong" bellhousings?