Another reason to hate GM

[rp23g7]

So, my son has a 79 Monte Carlo. He calls me today, i think my starter is dead, says it makes a weird noise. I go check it out. I turn the key, whirrrr. Hmm sounds like the starter is freewheeling.

Clink, hmmm look under the car, a bolt is laying there.

Rear under and look at it, broken off right at the threads, apparently the other one is gone. !@#$#

Time for some punching and tapping and easy-outing

 

[69 Runner]

And don't forget a lovely assortment of shims when you're done

 

[wannadrag]

Hmmm,i've had crap loads of gm and particulary chevy cars and have never in 30 years had starter bolts break.Must not have been tight or were just some generic bolts put in.They do take a special bolt.

 

[Revhendo]

Yep, gotta say, never seen a broken Chevy STARTER bolt. Seen some broke "it'll fit" bolts. Seen some broken cases. But if that is a starter bolt that is broken, the knurls on it will make getting it out fun.....

 

[rp23g7]

Ah yes, the fun trial and error shims.

It looks like they broke right at the threads, or one broke at the threads when it got installed and who ever did it put the other bolt in by itself and it failed due to vibration.

 

[wannadrag]

When you put it back together make sure to put the brace on the rear of it.Little L shaped bracket that bolts to the block and the threaded stud on the starter.

 

[rp23g7]

How come its aways Chevy starters i have to replace??? I cant think of one MoPar starter i have replaced due to failure, or even a Ford Starter, in 30 yrs of working on cars, probably have been a few, but cant remember, but i have help replace a bunch of chevy starters. Friends sister had a 73 Nova, replaced its starter twice, 4 or 5 yrs apart, in the Kmart parking lot at 9 at night under a streetlight, what fun.

 

[wannadrag]

I have to say i have replaced a bunch on the small blocks.Most times it is due to excessive heat from the headers.Started using a bolt on heat shield and it eliminated the problem.

 

[696pack]

I don't HATE GM, Ford or AMC, I love all old muscle cars. I just happen to currently have three old Mopars. Over the last 40 years I have had many old cars to play with. They all have good and bad. I was just looking at an old photo album last night and found several pictures of some of the iron I had years ago. I wish I would have taken pictures of all the cars I have owned as I have had approx 150 muscle, sports, antique and special interest cars over the last 40 years.

 

[rp23g7]

I don't HATE GM, Ford or AMC, I love all old muscle cars. I just happen to currently have three old Mopars. Over the last 40 years I have had many old cars to play with. They all have good and bad. I was just looking at an old photo album last night and found several pictures of some of the iron I had years ago. I wish I would have taken pictures of all the cars I have owned as I have had approx 150 muscle, sports, antique and special interest cars over the last 40 years.

I hear ya, i dont hate GM really, just the design ideas that thay have, i am sure that Ford and Chrysler have had bad design ideas, but i am just accustomed to working on them.

One that comes to mind are the wiper pivot seals.

Anything that has lasted 40+ yrs in america, or else where these days deserves respect. Some of the engineers may not though.

If i found a 70 454SS or a 71 402 Camaro for the right price i would snap it up in a heartbeat. Just a rant on GM design, i am sure they made the small block as inexpensive as possible to mass produce, and just never changed it.

 

[scotts74birds]

Just a quick word.... a welder friend of mine just told me the other day about a thing called and "extractor rod" Its a special type of welding rod designed to build "up" to aid in extracting broken bolts. It is supposed to resist welding to the threads so you can weld a nut to the top of it. Just sayin.......

 

[wannadrag]

Our heavy equipment mechanic at the company i work for uses a reverse twist drill bit for that type of thing.Works well,if its just broke it will spin out once drilled in a little.

 

[Revhendo]

Our heavy equipment mechanic at the company i work for uses a reverse twist drill bit for that type of thing.Works well,if its just broke it will spin out once drilled in a little.

Left handed drill bits, expensive as ____, worth their weight in gold....

 

[rp23g7]

Left handed drill bits, expensive as ____, worth their weight in gold....

Yeah, gotta go get another set, i think mine are dull.

 

[Polara Pat]

I had a similar experience with a friend of mine, a girl with a '70 Chevy P/U called me in a panic because every time she cranks the ignition it sounds like smashing a bottle with a chain and she is parked right down town. I went for a rescue mission and the same thing happened with one bolt just falling on the pavement, thankfully all the rest were still there so I just got to tighten everything up and be an easy hero.

Don't forget that if you are using an easy out and it breaks then you are really up **** creek.