Real Fiero Tech

Can I put a modern mini-starter from a 5.3, etc. on an old school SBC?

I don't think so

you should look into the '92-'97 LT1/LT4 starter. They're even cheaper remanufactured. I forget the source of my info. But the interchange is good.

oh, by the way, I have the stuff loose in my bedroom to test this idea for you. Give me a couple of days.

Atilla the Fun wrote:oh, by the way, I have the stuff loose in my bedroom to test this idea for you. Give me a couple of days.

Thanks. I'd appreciate that.

I was using the starter from a 2000 5.3, and the 350 was the 1-piece rear main seal, so the flexplate is 153 tooth. First, the matter of bolts. The 350 bolts slid right through the 5.3 starter perfectly. The block came from either a truck or a 'vette, it's 4-bolt main. This matters only because it has all 3 starter bolt holes, for either the straight pattern of the 153 tooth, and the staggered pattern of the 168 tooth. as vettes didn't use 168 tooth in those years, this is a truck block. Anyway, the 5.3 holes are too close together, and even if youwere inclined to drill and tap a new hole, or two, you'd still need to take a grinder to the block, as the solenoid/plunger thing hits the block. If you ground the clearance, you wouldn't hit water, so have at it if you aqlready have the starter and KNOW it's good, go right ahead. Otherwise, just use the starter for the '92-'97 LT1/LT4.

p.s. If you go 168 tooth, you might not need to grind, or at least not as much, and you might be able to use the outermost hole.