Cliff I have later model 4 pole 390 style starter with 10 pitch bendix in stock. Also have late model 5.0L style permanent magnet hi torque starters with 10 pitch . Take your pick.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

Re: Ted's comments. I've heard that some folks have reversed the ring gear with success. I haven't found that to be necessary. Probably a good ideas though. 

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Besides the ring gear and starter bendix gear pitches being different, the lip on the flywheel is on the wrong side to keep the starter ring gear in place when using a later model starter.  The original starters were a ‘pull forward’ design and as such, the ring gear lip is on the forward portion of the flywheel so that the ring gear is not pushed off of the flywheel.
 
I did have a recent experience on a 1958 361 Edsel engine with a manual transmission where the customer used a late model starter.  In that particular case, the incompatibility of the gear pitches was keeping the starter bendix from disengaging.  To fix this, the flywheel ring gear was simply changed from the earlier model 153 tooth unit to the later model 184 tooth unit which had the late model starter working as it should.  Some tack welds were added to the ring gear to help hold it in place as the flywheel lip was on the wrong side for the 'push rearward' late model starter bendix.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Strange that 2 or 3 starters would fail in a short period of time?. As far as I know they were generally reliable for years normally.  The fact that most mini starters for the Y-block engage from the wrong side, makes me leery of them. In one reported case, the ring gear was torn right off the fly wheel.. Mummet's unit appears more substantial than most I've seen, but I haven't seen any details on it..


Paul

I also recommend the auto electric starter.  I've had mine for 13 or 14 years, now, maybe longer, on a daily driver, probably over 20000 miles with it now..  I couldn't keep stock starters in it more than a year.  Yes, it's expensive, but two or three rebuilds or replacements of the stocker, and you're right there, anyway.



Lawrenceville, GA

I used the Auto-Electric mini on my 54 (4speed) and it works great.
Yes, the 390 starters are used on a C4 conversion, which I did to my TBird.





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

I've run the Auto electric two bolt starter on my F code for 10 years. Never had any problems. Really good people to deal with.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Cliff There are high torque mini-starters available that will mount to the stock Y-Block bell housing. They engage the front of the ring gear instead of the back of the ring gear like the stock Y-Block starters do. I'm not sure about the 390 starters. I think they are used when doing a transmission conversion to a C4 where the bell housing is different but don't quote me on that.
Rono

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

I went with this starter. http://www.autoelec.com/html/y_block_ford_gear_reduction_starter.html
Definitely glad I updated that ancient technology!

Your best bet is to buy an gear reduction "mini starter"! I know that John Mummert sells them, not sure who else. If you are not concerned about being original, I highly recommend going this route!  

I love the smell of burning rubber in the morning!