GM gear reduction starter on older small block

[daveL82]

I have a ZZ4 which I've been running a Tilton gear reduction starter on. Over the last two years I've had to rebuild the solenoid twice using parts for the old 280Z starter as it's the same internals/motor.

I got tired of rebuilding especially with so few miles on the car. I went to the local parts house and got a GM ger reduction starter for an 89 vette since the engine is similar to the ZZ4. However I now see that the new start has more teeth and I can't remember how many teeth the fly wheel on the motor has as it's a fidenza aluminum one I put on the ZZ4 several years ago.

Is there another GM reduction starter wth different number of teeth?

 

[MYBAD79]

I recently replaced my starter and the old one had 11 teeth and the new starter has 9 teeth. Both starters work fine with my (I think) 168 tooth flywheel

 

[daveL82]

I was under the impression that you have to use the starter with the correct number of teeth for a specific flywheel?

 

[mrvette]

I was under the impression that you have to use the starter with the correct number of teeth for a specific flywheel?

I have never had to deal with the 'problem' but as I understood it, there were two fly diameters.....the 153 tooth and 168? whatever the counts....large and small diameter....and the starters were to agree with the fly/flexplate....

I never heard of any diff on the starter end of things.....Mike, that do with the thing being the old heavy large starter, vs the newer mini size things???

:search:

 

[daveL82]

I said to heck with it last night and bolted it up and it seems to work fine. No grinding noise.

 

[MYBAD79]

Both of these starters that I used (11 vs 9 teeth) are advertized to fit 153 and 168 teeth flywheel/flexplates....

It works, that's good news :1st:

 

[damoroso]

Starters work with both flywheels. The difference is in the mounting and shimming of the starter. Some starters have three bolt holes, and some have two, but each will work with both size flywheels.