iron nose 3bolt starter

[screamin86]

I'm still having a hard tike finding someone to fix the outer ear of my block where the starter mounts up and replacing the motor is out of the question and pulling it will not happen till atleast summer time since I've been deep into my 5.3 swap into my car and its taking up the garage. Some people have mentioned using one of the old iron nose 3bolt starters to see if that will work. I've found a place online that sells reman ones and am temped to ty one because at this point I'm desperate! I need the truck badly now and I can get it to start but I have to keep turning the key till the starter will finaly grab and turn over. You guys think this may work?

[Irish_Alley]

If it was me I would put some jb on the bolt if it can be done. Just as a quick fix til summer. Summer come around you have to take it apart anyway idk

[VileZambonie]

No one on here is in your area with a welder? How about a local garage? Welding and fabrication shop? Put an ad on Craigslist and see if a welder can come help you out for $100 bucks.

[Grim 82]

Welding it would be the right way. If it was out of the truck you could do a really good job on it with a low nickel 77 rod. You should be able to MIG it on the truck though. Other than that, drill it deeper and helicoil it, or just use a thru-bolt. It's a big enough bolt that you should be able to put enough torque on it for a slip-critical connection so it doesn't jump around anymore. Just don't crack the rest of the flange off.

[screamin86]

Called a few shops and took it to one and all they did was put a diffrent starter on it and said it was fixed. Started good for about a week then started acting up. It does not grind just does not even engage the flexplate. I bought a starter brace but the starter I have on it is for a 96+ vortec motor and is smaller and the brace will not bolt to it. Like I said the truck runs great otherwise and I need to get it inspected but I can't take it to do that if I don't know if it will start right for them.