Tooth count on starter and flywheel?

[madmike]

I've got a Powermaster starter, Summit pn PWM-9300.  It has 10 teeth, and my flywheel has 143 teeth (four speed, 11" clutch).  I talked to two different guys at Summit Racing, and got two stories on whether or not the tooth count mattered.  One said it would work, one didn't think so, but wasn't sure.  The starter came with the car, and I was just trying to re-use it...

Will it work?  Does the tooth count on the starter matter?
Mike

[Troy]

I wouldn't think so since the same starter that works on my 68 (11" flywheel with 143 teeth) also works on my 70 (10.5" flywheel with 130 teeth). I think the factory starter was the same. The Hemi *was* different though!

Troy

[ACUDANUT]

 regardless, they all work just fine....With any combo....

[Troy]

regardless, they all work just fine....With any combo....

Actually, no, they don't. The Hemi stuff is very specific and you need a matched set (I believe it has a Slant Six "snout" on the starter and matching receiver in the bell housing). However, that stuff is also ridiculously expensive and hard to find so it's unlikely that the normal guy has those pieces just laying around. The "standard" starter fits about everything else (big block, small block, auto, 4-speed).

Troy

[ACUDANUT]

Hmmm, never witnessed this problem.

[Troy]

Well, Hemi cranks have 8 bolts so trying to get one of those flywheels to fit a stock 440 would be the first "gotcha". The flywheel has 172 teeth but is also 11" so the teeth are a lot smaller than the 143 tooth version. The Hemi starter is a direct drive unit which matches the flywheel/bell housing. A 440 starter won't fit a stock Hemi because of these differences. A 440 bell housing can be used on a Hemi and 8 bolt 143 tooth flywheels are available which would then allow the normal starter.

Troy