Did chevy stop using starter front braces somewhere along the line?

[Stewart G Griffin]

Did chevy stop using starter front braces sometime after 86?   My new block doesn't have a hole to attach a brace to it.  Also, most of the parts catalogs and 'Tube videos seem to indicate no front starter brace for engines after 86?   And it appears the 86 4.3 didn't have a brace, but i don't remember 100%.

Not urgent yet.  i'm going to run it without the brace for now---i didn't use one on the old engine and didn't crack anything.   But i would like to research this in the meantime.

i should also mention that both the "old" and new 4.3 blocks use the staggered starter bolt pattern.

[hatzie]

I would think you could fab a brace to the pan rail bolts.  The 10MT is pretty heavy.  On stock 8:1 compression engines the lack of bracing is probably not going to be an issue.  If you've updated heads pistons etc then I'd look at bracing it.

http://rmcavoy.freeshell.org/starters.html

All of the Olds and AMG diesels with the 27MT & 28MT starters had provision for starter braces but that's a little off topic.

[big_al273]

My 88 Crew had a starter support bracket, but i don't think i put it back with the new starter as i went from the gianormous stock replacement to a Bosch Gear reduction unit that was only about 1/3-1/2 the size and a whole lot lighter, oh and this is a 454 truck

[hatzie]

You can still run into trouble if the compression ratio is high enough.  Without a brace... All of the rotational torque of that series wound motor is concentrated on the starter nose.  If you bump the compression ratio above 8.7:1 I'd install one.  Cheap insurance.

The 28MT is much smaller and lighter than the massive & heavy 27MT but GM still used tail braces on em and folks complain about breaking starters and starter pads on the 6.x L diesel blocks when they don't use em.

[Stewart G Griffin]

So i went out and checked the old 4.3 block and yes there seems to be a hole where the brace may bolt up to.  However, i'm pretty sure it did not come with one---at least when i bought it. 

When i went to install this engine in the truck, i like to install the starter AFTER i get them into the car.  The problem is the strut rod bracket was in the way and prevented me from installing the brace and i didn't realize it until the engine was in the truck.   So i decided to run it as is and figure something out later.    i didn't crack anything, so i guess that is a good sign?

(NOTE:  Apparently trucks with the 4.3's with the turbo 400 trans ALL got strut rod braces.  i have no idea why---seems overkill)

Now with this new block, there is a pad that i suppose could be drilled and tapped, but that wouldn't make sense either as this is a remanufactured engine.

This is still a mystery to me.

Would a v-6 engine be easier to turn over than a v-8 even with comparable compression?

   As far as i know the old 4.3 had 9:3 and the "new" one has at least 9:1

[Stewart G Griffin]

My 88 Crew had a starter support bracket, but i don't think i put it back with the new starter as i went from the gianormous stock replacement to a Bosch Gear reduction unit that was only about 1/3-1/2 the size and a whole lot lighter, oh and this is a 454 truck

Worst comes to worst i'm thinking of doing that.