Hi everyone, I am in the middle of my BMW E36 5.3 L33 swap with a T56. The engine did not have a starter on it when I go it so I ordered one. I tried it and it does not go in the hole in the bellhousing.

The bolt holes appear to be the same but the nose wont fit between the flywheel (168th) and the bh (stock Fbody t56).
Are there two different starters for the LS series engines? Help.....
Thanks in advance!

 

One of the differences that I am aware of is the GTO T56 bellhousing is smaller in the starter area and requires a GTO specific starter, I have heard some people grind on the bellhousing and are then able to use a Fbody or truck starter which I think are externally identical except some use 2 long bolts and some use 1 long and 1 short bolt, you want to stay away from the latter as those starters have been known to fail and crack the block as well.

 

That maybe the problem,,,GTO bh. I was told it was a Fbody, is grinding the hole going to weaken the bh?
Thanks for the help lizeec!!

 

Honestly I do not know how much needs to be ground down, I just remember reading a few posts about similar problems as yours, maybe check to see if your bh has a part number to verify if it is a GTO or Fbody bh. Search for threads on that subject if I remember correctly the threads where they had to grind on the bh mentioned the grinding part was minimal.