alright what now?

[screamin86]

well as some know ive been fighting with my starter for some time and with winter coming i need the truck. i got to working on it today and with a 060 shim and a half 060 shim on the outer bolt it would crank perfect a few times but with the truck not being started in like two weeks not long enough to fire and after some cranking the starter would start to bind and grind then just grind. im using the correct bolts and ive used many diffrent starters but when i decided to pull this one back off today i wiped down the block and found this.


like i sad now what do i do? i dont have the time or the money to replace the motor again especialy when this one has less than 2000miles on it and runs great. im at the point if i cant find a cheap fix i may sell it! i do not want to but i cant keep messing with this thing or have it just sit in my yard forever unuseable just because it will not start. someone please help!

[Blazin]

Going to have to have it welded up, re drill the hole, and tap it.

[screamin86]

Herd that unless I tear it down to bare block I can't do that. Also wouldn't it have to be done where its 100% same spot how could that be done without taking it to a macine shop. I did find on another forum that there is a adapter you can buy that bolts between the block and transmisson to mount a bellhousing style starter like the old 265 v8s had. At this point that seems like my best option.

[three8six]

I would talk to the local welders I got a guy who does stuff just like that. He just welded the whole top of a tranny back shut for a buddy.

[VileZambonie]

Easy fix. If you can't do it just take it to a shop that does welding. They'll have you fixed up in no time.

[78 Chevyrado]

Couldn't he just drill the hole deeper and thread it and use a longer bolt?  Not sure, I've never had this problem before.  knurled bolts probably aren't that easy to find in odd lengths though.

[screamin86]

Do I have to disassemble the engine to do so? I can get it to start but is doesn't sound pretty wonder if someone can do it with the motor still in the truck?

[VileZambonie]

yes it can be done in the truck

[Da67goatman]

You could JB Weld a long stud in that hole, would be nice to have a stud when trying to line it up.  I might just put studs in mine next time.

[screamin86]

The jb weld idea sounds like it would work BUT it would cause more work if I ever wanted to fix it right! I guess ill call around some shops tomarrow. I can get it to start but requires two people and requires me to pull on the starter while someone cranks. ill wait to find a shop beforei decide to go this route.

[fitz]

From the pic it looks like you could drill the hole completely through the block then drop a long bolt down from the top. Slide the starter up into place and use a lockwasher and nut to secure it.
It may not be the ideal way to fix it but it would save you the cost of a tow and the labor to weld it.
I've done this with exhaust manifolds and it worked fine.

[screamin86]

the only thing is the starter would still move around and cause the problems ive been having.

[screamin86]

I called a local shop that also has a inhouse machine shop and they actualy did my heads for me but he said he had someone else a few weeks ago with the same issue. He said that he may ber able to fix it depending on how bad it is so I'm going to get my cousin to come over tomarrow to help me get it started and ill take it over and drop it off. Hopefully he can get it done for me so I don't have any more problems.