I replaced the starter on my 94 pickup (351 engine) and after laying the old one on the bench beside a Y starter I got to wondering if the pickup starter would work on a Y.Does anyone know if it will fit?It appears to have the same bolt pattern( only 1 less bolt) and the depth of the drive seems to be about the same.The pickup starter is about half the size and about a fourth the weight of the Y starter.If it will work,it looks like a good swap.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

Paul: do the teeth on the drive appear exactly the same? Reason for asking is that F.E. starters appear to be the same as a Y-block starter, but apparently some people have run in to problems, because the mesh is not the same. Possibly on 1965 and later units. However, I can't confirm this info, so it's a ??. (from near Vancouver B.C.)

Paul

Paul:

The Y starter drive engages the flywheel teeth from the rear, the 351 engages from the front.  The flywheel teeth are chamfered on the rear, so technically the ring gear on the flywheel should be turned around.  The 351 drive teeth are chamfered, so maybe this isn't an issue.  Safest thing to do would be to get the even lighter and smaller gear drive starter available specifically for the Y Block.

John in Selma, IN

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

To add to what John has said, the two starters have a different pitch for the bendix teeth which in turn requires a corresponding pitch on the starter ring gear.

 

Here’s some additional info regarding Y starters:  Starters for 1964 and earlier FE’s fit the Y.  The starters for the 1965 and later FE’s do have a different pitch on the bendix and as a result, do not match up with the Y flywheel.  The later model starters also engage by moving rearward instead of going forward which requires a step on the rear side of the flywheel so that the starter ring is not being gradually pushed off of the flywheel over repeated engagements. The Y Blocks and the 1964 and earlier FE’s have this step on the front side of the flywheel for the starter ring gear to rest against due to the starter bendix moving forward when engaging.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Thanks Guys,

After posting the question,I took a closer look at the two starters and can see that the teeth on the Bendix are different pitch and depth.

Oh well,it seemed a good idea at the time!!

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

If your buying a new starter the High Torque starters are great and about 1/2 the size of the old one. Easy in and out etc.. The part number on mine is MTR.3510GRH but it needs an adapter. Do a web search and you should find the complete assembly. Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Auto Electric in Michigan. Link to it from the links icon on the home page of YBF. 

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Ted: thanks for the clarification on the F.E. starters. A friend has offered me a F.E. starter, but I was dubious about taking it.

Apparently, info which was published in YBM, did not include the distinction between early and late F.E. starters, with respect to the Y-Blk. Later someone wrote to YBM, saying that they had experienced a ring gear failure, using a F.E. starter. That would be more than a little annoying to fix..

Paul