Well here's another question, do starters installed on early fifties manuals have a slightly different bolt pattern than on autos. I've just tried to install a starter from a 57 Ford-o-matic onto a bell housing from a early 272 manual, but the lower bolt holes didn't line up. Can I get away with just using the two upper bolts temporarily?

272, 292 and 312 starters are inchangeable, all 3 holes should line up. Turn starter untill they do, or you have the wrong starter or bellhousing. DO NOT USE ONLY 2  HOLES to mount it.

The Ford parts book I have shows the same starter number for all 12V 6 & 8 cylinder engine applications up to 1959 except the 430 V8.Also make sure that the starter drive is retracted.


~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles

OK thanks for the reply, I unbolted the bell housing and the starter and then tried to align them, yep the fit perfectly. So it must have been the starter gear causing the problem as it was not retracted.

Kenny there is probably nothing wrong with your starter.  You have to spin the starter gear at a good rate to get it to retract.  Many have done this using a wire wheel on a drill with the starter clamped in a vice.  I personally have not.  On my engine I was able to install the starter with the gear extended.  I removed the dust cap on the bell housing so that I could help guide the gear around the ring gear from behind.  I also ran the top bolt in from the back of the bell housing so that I could temporarily  hang the starter on the top bolt while I aligned the lower two bolts.  Once they were snug I removed the top bolt and reinstalled it from the front a is normal.  This, of course is with the engine out of the car.  In the car it is much more difficult and requires a lot of patience.  Good luck.



Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Thanks Mark, I'll give that a try. I had a look at the cost of a new one and it didn't make me feel any better. So here's hoping.

One way to get the starter in easier is to use studs rather than bolts.  I do this to all my starters.  Or you could just use a stud in one hole to help guide the starter into position.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

I've retracted the gear using the wire wheel side of a bench grinder.


~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles

All good comments, I am a lot wiser now!Cheers guysKen