Conversions & Swaps LSX Engines in Non-LSX Vehicles
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5.3L-TH400, which Starter?

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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 05:34 PM
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Default 5.3L-TH400, which Starter?

I'm needing to know what kind of starter you guys used....
I'm building a carb'd 5.3l with a tci flex plate and a tci th400. All this will go into a 1969 camaro.

I'm needing to know what starter I need to use. A truck,camaro,or a Corvette starter. Pictures and part numbers would help greatly.
Thanks.
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 05:57 PM
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Originally Posted by eramos2033
I'm needing to know what kind of starter you guys used....
I'm building a carb'd 5.3l with a tci flex plate and a tci th400. All this will go into a 1969 camaro.

I'm needing to know what starter I need to use. A truck,camaro,or a Corvette starter. Pictures and part numbers would help greatly.
Thanks.
its to my understanding that you will be using the factory 5.3 style starter
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 06:36 PM
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There seem to be two types.I went to autozone and was told that three were two different types. Long bolt and short bolt style. (I may have misunderstood though)
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 06:39 PM
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Im running a 5.3/Th400 with the stock flexplate with the spacer. I used the stock truck starter.
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Old Sep 13, 2011 | 06:51 PM
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I bought the engine without the starter so I don't know what the "stock" starter is. Like I said autozone ($150ish) and my local auto stores pull up two types. I'm thinking about ordering one from eBay($75) and would like to get a part number first just to be sure of my purchase.
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Old Sep 14, 2011 | 12:23 AM
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I`m pretty sure that all my swaps have used a long/long bolt starter. I have worked on a 2001 5.3 tahoe motor, 2001 GMC silverado 6.0l, 1999 chevy 1500 5.3L, 2003 suburban 5.3L and my spare starter were all the long/long bolt ones. I don`t even think I have seen a long/short bolt starter on a LSx, but autozone does list one, I have no idea what used it though.
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Old Sep 14, 2011 | 12:37 PM
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Dont trust the guys at most Auto parts stores, If its not in the computer it doesnt exist to them. Car Quest and Napa do very well opening books.
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Old May 22, 2020 | 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by 78supersport
Im running a 5.3/Th400 with the stock flexplate with the spacer. I used the stock truck starter.
howd you bolt the torque converter to flex plate I'm looking and there isn't much room between the flex plate and the block to get a nut back there, how long were your bolts?
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Old May 22, 2020 | 02:51 PM
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The guy at autozone was correc . Theres two types of ls starter . Two long bolts and the one short one long that breaks blocks. Buy the two long bolt version.
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Old May 23, 2020 | 04:25 AM
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Originally Posted by 74novacustom
Dont trust the guys at most Auto parts stores, If its not in the computer it doesnt exist to them. Car Quest and Napa do very well opening books.
Think those counter parts guys were useless in 2011? Fast forward to 2020 where most of us only go the the local parts store in an emergency or research the part numbers online before going to the store,competent parts people sadly are a dying breed and harder and harder to find.
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Old May 24, 2020 | 07:04 AM
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The long/short bolt starters are GM first design that would break the block.
The long/long bolt starters were second design that cured the broken block problem.
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Old Jan 7, 2022 | 07:21 PM
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Originally Posted by LS BRAVADA
The long/short bolt starters are GM first design that would break the block.
The long/long bolt starters were second design that cured the broken block problem.
What year had the broken block problem and what years was it corrected... getting ready to build a carbed ls for my derby cars
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Old Jan 7, 2022 | 07:37 PM
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It wasn't block design. It was the difference in starters. Pretty obvious by description.
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Old Jan 7, 2022 | 08:00 PM
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I have run across old GM blocks (283/327/305's) that had a shallow bolt hole.. Just shallow enough you think you go the bolt tight, till the long side breaks, or it roaches the ring gear on the flywheel. Test the bolts in the holes before you install.
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