what starter do I have

[nabob_blaster]

I have a straight body starter that came out of my truck on my lemans that is weak and will just crank my car when the motor is cold and will not when the motor is warmed up went to get another one and they only have the buldged starter we looked at several of the on the counter and none of them are the straight body does anyone know of the vehicle that came with this type of starter

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Seriously, take a pic and post it. I do not know exactly the starter you are referring to without first seeing it. The only thing I would tell you is to order a starter for the truck, as it seems to fit. Most parts store monkeys are inept when it comes to this sort of thing and do not know the subtle nuances of the various parts interchanges and what fits what non stock application. If you can't post a pic, what do you mean by "Straight body"? Are you talking about the nose that has the pinion? Where is it straight? Equal height bolts or stepped bolt bosses? The other question to answer is are you using a 168 tooth or 153 tooth flywheel/flexplate. The starters should not be interchanged. If it is the original engine, I believe it will be a 153 tooth for that year.

(P.S. try using periods, punctuation and capitalization in your posts. The run on sentences make them difficult to read)

 

[nabob_blaster]

Sorry about the sentences.The body of the starter where the windings are is straight and slightly smaller than the starter for the car.But the replace ment starter they show for the truck doesn't look like the one I have.Sorry one more time I don't have a camera either.The URL pic was taken with my camera but it has since been removed from my possesion.The truck had a four speed 168 tooth flywheel and the flywheel I put on is an sfi ati 168 auto flywheel.Went back to the parts store yesterday Napa this time and still no luck.guess I'll have to get a mini starter.Know anyone who needs a kidney?

 

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Well, as long as it bolts in, you should be able to use a different looking starter. The motor side of things generally does not affect the way it fits unless it is either a really tight chassis or you have headers that wrap around the starter too closely. There were several different pinion noses ( aluminum section) used by GM over the years, but so long as it bolts up it is usually not an issue.I run a junkyard starter I found on a 1985 Pontiac Grand Prix with a Chevy 305 and it works just fine ( It was a new rebuild when I found it for $10).My engine is a 1977 350 of unknown origin, and it bolts right up. However, my car uses a 153 tooth flexplate off a 86 Grand Prix (2 piece rear main seal block) so this would not work in your case. I would try the parts store starter if I were you. Worst case scenario you will just have to take it back. If you want a passenger car application instead of a truck, try getting one for a 1977 Monza with a 305 or 262 V8. It will be a 168 tooth flywheel application and may be smaller due to the tighter fit in the compact Monza chassis.

 

[nabob_blaster]

Will go to the parts store tomorrow one more time and try for the monza starter if it doesn't work then I'll have to go with a mini cause the other starter which was new could hardly crank it on the engine stand.I guess it has a little too much compression for a factory starter.