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By PF Arcand - 17 Years Ago
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In an issue of YBM a while back, it was said that later F.E. starters from 390s & up fit the Y-Blk & are a better starter design. However, it was vague on specifics. (Do all F.E.'s fit?) Can anyone clarify identifying the more desirable model? Thanks..
(from Vancouver B.C.)
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By paul2748 - 17 Years Ago
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If you want a good starter, I recommend these guys.
http://www.autoelec.com/index.html
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By charliemccraney - 17 Years Ago
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I'll second that. Been using one for about 4 years now.
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By PF Arcand - 17 Years Ago
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Thanks guys, but for reasons of cost & convenience, I prefer to consider first one of the three unused rebuilt starters, as yet not properly identified, that a friend has on hand. The starter wanted will be a 1960s - 390 & up model, which is a better, later design & also "lighter" than a Y-Block starter. I just want i.d. help, thanks.
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By Ted - 17 Years Ago
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As far as I’m aware, only the 1958 thru 1964 FE starters will work with the Y flywheel. The pitch pattern on the flywheel teeth changed in 1965 for the FE and that pitch doesn’t match the Y at that point. I’ve been told that there actually is an aftermarket bendix available to convert the later model starter for use on the Y. Haven’t seen one or heard from who they are available from but surely if they are out there, someone on the site is aware of these.
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By PWH42 - 17 Years Ago
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I went to our NAPA store the other day and asked for a starter for an early 60's FE and was told they needed to know the engine, vehicle,model,etc.So I told him a 352 in a 62 Galaxie and he brought out a 2 bolt starter.So obviously it wasn't right.Does anyone know exactly which vehicles and engine you need to specify so the younger generation of parts persons can find the right one in their computer?
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By PF Arcand - 17 Years Ago
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The starter article was by Richard Gaston in YBM issue #80. It only refers to 1960s F.E. 390-427 starters. The photo shown is murky, but shows a starter with a 1/2 cover over the Bendix & it appears to have a raised area on the main body. It states the starter works better than, & is smaller and lighter than a Y-blk starter. Otherwise.. ??
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By Ted - 17 Years Ago
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PWH42 (3/8/2008)
I went to our NAPA store the other day and asked for a starter for an early 60's FE and was told they needed to know the engine, vehicle, model, etc. So I told him a 352 in a 62 Galaxie and he brought out a 2 bolt starter. So obviously it wasn't right. Does anyone know exactly which vehicles and engine you need to specify so the younger generation of parts persons can find the right one in their computer?This is just a case where the parts store brought out the wrong starter as the ’62 FE starter will work on the Y. This could have very easily been a case where the starter was mis-boxed which happens only too frequently on remanufactured parts.
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By PWH42 - 17 Years Ago
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Thanks Ted, I'll try again.
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By John F - 17 Years Ago
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I thought the Y Blocks had a external starter drive. do you have to modify the FE starter or is it a direct bolt in?
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By MoonShadow - 17 Years Ago
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Are those early FE starters 3 bolt? I was under the impression that they were 2 bolt but would work. Chuck
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 17 Years Ago
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The FE starters before '65 were the spin-in type just like the Y, and fully interchangeable. The pull-in type starters appeared in '65. I don't know if the flywheel tooth pattern changed then or not. If it changed, the teeth on the starter drive would have changed also. John in Selma, IN
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By PF Arcand - 17 Years Ago
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There was no mention of mods being required to install the starter & the starter in the photo is a 3 bolt..
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By John F - 17 Years Ago
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I looked on Napa website they list a starter for a 63 Galaxie 390 that looks the same as a Y-Block. It also was a 3 bolt mounting.
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By Ted - 17 Years Ago
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All the FE starters were the three bolt design regardless of year but there are some two bolt starters that will bolt up. Early on, I would install a ’65 or newer flywheel (or ring gear) on the pre ‘65 FE’s and use the late model starter in conjunction with the early model bellhousing this combination would work just fine. However, the latemodel FE bellhousing would not work with the early model starter simply because there wasn't enough cavity for the early bendix to fit in. Both the flywheel teeth and bendix teeth changed in 1965 for the FE so those later model starters will not mesh correctly with the Y flywheel although the starter bolt pattern in the bellhousings are physically the same. The other thing that changed in 1965 on the FE is the side of the flywheel in which the register for the ring gear resides. For the ’64 and earlier, the ring gear register on the outside diameter of the flywheel was on the engine side of the flywheel so that the starter action would not push the ring gear to the front and off of the flywheel. This is the same as the Y. In ’65, the register moved to the transmission side of the flywheel to prevent the ring gear from being pushed any further to the rear.
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