1969 Starter

[D S.]

What is the starter number on a 1969 Corvette, 350 engine with a 300 HP with an automatic transmission (TH400). It has a 168 tooth flywheel. The engine code ends in HZ, built in Feb. 1969.

Thanks,
Scott Sims
Texas Chapter

[Tom H.]

Re: 1969 Starter

Scott:

Book shows 1108427

[D S.]

Re: 1969 Starter

Thanks, Tom. Confusion: Joe Lucia's reply to a post in September 2009 states that the 1008427 is a 1970 starter. Would the 1108427 go back to early 1969 350/300 with TH400?

[Erv M.]

Re: 1969 Starter

I need to check the manual again, however I have a 350/300 TH400 with starter 1108388 dated 9 A 28 for a February build date.

[D S.]

Re: 1969 Starter

1108338 or 1108388? I couldn't find a reference for a 388.

[Tom H.]

Re: 1969 Starter

I'd always go with Joe L., let me check another source.

Everything I have shows the 1108427 as the application for 69.

[Tom H.]

Re: 1969 Starter

1108338 or 1108388? I couldn't find a reference for a 388.

He had to mean 1108338. That number shows good for 69 300 / 350 HP manual and 1970 300 / 350 / 370 HP with manual trans.

[John P.]

Re: 1969 Starter

1108338 is what you need.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 Starter

Thanks, Tom. Confusion: Joe Lucia's reply to a post in September 2009 states that the 1008427 is a 1970 starter. Would the 1108427 go back to early 1969 350/300 with TH400?

Scott-----


I would not rule out the possibility that very late 1969 with M-40 MIGHT have used the 1108427. I doubt it, but I would not rule out the possibility.

So, what's the difference between an 1108338 and an 1108427? Well, an 1108338 uses a cast iron starter nose (block attachment type). I believe (but DON'T know, for sure) the 1108427 uses an aluminum starter nose. However, if so, this is an aluminum nose designed for use with 168 tooth ring gears and NOT the aluminum nose used for 153 tooth ring gears. The aluminum nose for 168 tooth ring gears uses the "staggered" bolt pattern (like the cast iron nose) but uses 2 LONG (4.65") starter bolts (same as the one LONG starter bolt used with the 153 tooth aluminum nose). The cast iron nose uses 2 "intermediate" length starter bolts (3.63").

For some reason or set of reasons I don't think that the 168 tooth aluminum nose can be used for 1969 applications but I'm not really clear on this. For one thing, 1969 M-40 applications used underpan GM #3868810. I don't think this underpan is compatible with the 168 tooth, aluminum nose-equipped starter. 1970 used underpan GM #3952661. This underpan is compatible with the 168 tooth aluminum nose-equipped starter. As far as I know, the 3868810 was used for all 1969 Corvettes with M-40 and the 3952661 was used for all 1970 Corvettes with M-40 (even though the 3952661 is a 1969 released part, I don't think it was used on 1969 Corvettes but was used on other 1969 Chevrolet cars).

The 3952661 or its successors were never supercessive to the 3868810.

I also want to point out that I don't think that the underpan was the only reason the 168 tooth, aluminum nosed starters were not used for 1969. I think the underpan differences between 1969 and 1970 portend some other, more consequential difference, but, if so, I don't know what it is.

[Jim T.]

Re: 1969 Starter

My facts, my 1970 original owner 350/300 with turbo 400 still has the original starter with a replacement solenoid and starter brushes and still 100% operational.

It has a 1108430 0F 17 2 stamping on the starter case.

[Erv M.]

Re: 1969 Starter

He had to mean 1108338. That number shows good for 69 300 / 350 HP manual and 1970 300 / 350 / 370 HP with manual trans.

Yes 110338, sorry for the typo.

[D S.]

Re: 1969 Starter

Scott-----


I would not rule out the possibility that very late 1969 with M-40 MIGHT have used the 1108427. I doubt it, but I would not rule out the possibility.

So, what's the difference between an 1108338 and an 1108427? Well, an 1108338 uses a cast iron starter nose (block attachment type). I believe (but DON'T know, for sure) the 1108427 uses an aluminum starter nose. However, if so, this is an aluminum nose designed for use with 168 tooth ring gears and NOT the aluminum nose used for 153 tooth ring gears. The aluminum nose for 168 tooth ring gears uses the "staggered" bolt pattern (like the cast iron nose) but uses 2 LONG (4.65") starter bolts (same as the one LONG starter bolt used with the 153 tooth aluminum nose). The cast iron nose uses 2 "intermediate" length starter bolts (3.63").

For some reason or set of reasons I don't think that the 168 tooth aluminum nose can be used for 1969 applications but I'm not really clear on this. For one thing, 1969 M-40 applications used underpan GM #3868810. I don't think this underpan is compatible with the 168 tooth, aluminum nose-equipped starter. 1970 used underpan GM #3952661. This underpan is compatible with the 168 tooth aluminum nose-equipped starter. As far as I know, the 3868810 was used for all 1969 Corvettes with M-40 and the 3952661 was used for all 1970 Corvettes with M-40 (even though the 3952661 is a 1969 released part, I don't think it was used on 1969 Corvettes but was used on other 1969 Chevrolet cars).

The 3952661 or its successors were never supercessive to the 3868810.

I also want to point out that I don't think that the underpan was the only reason the 168 tooth, aluminum nosed starters were not used for 1969. I think the underpan differences between 1969 and 1970 portend some other, more consequential difference, but, if so, I don't know what it is.

So, in a nutshell is the 1008338 specifically correct for a February 1969 built Corvette with 350/300 and TH400?

Thanks,
Scott

[Ralph A.]

Re: 1969 Starter

I have a 12/1/69 base auto with the 338 starter, correctly dated and see no evidence that it was replaced as all other dated parts were original and correct. JM and I disagree.
Ralph

[D S.]

Re: 1969 Starter

This Web site,
http://www.corvettec3.ca/starter.htm shows that the 1108427 as being correct for 1969 350/300 w/TH400 so Tom Hendricks may be right. However, in the 1968 application the 338 was used on 327/300 with TH400 so could they have been used through early 1969 and later began using the 1108427? If so, when? Or would both be correct as long as the date is correct for the engine casting or build date?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 Starter

This Web site,
http://www.corvettec3.ca/starter.htm shows that the 1108427 as being correct for 1969 350/300 w/TH400 so Tom Hendricks may be right. However, in the 1968 application the 338 was used on 327/300 with TH400 so could they have been used through early 1969 and later began using the 1108427? If so, when? Or would both be correct as long as the date is correct for the engine casting or build date?

Scott------


Given the wording and format, I would say the information on that web-site came directly out of the NCRS Specifications Guide. So, if there's an error there, the error would just be repeated on that web-site rather than it providing any "confirmation".

I did a little more research on this one. GM says that the 1108427 was a 1970 model year starter. Also, I confirmed that the 1108427 starter originally used the "staggered attaching bolt", ALUMINUM starter nose. I don't think this nose will work for a 1969 Corvette application but, as I said before, I'm not sure.

It is possible that in the last few months of 1969 Corvette production (the period when other Chevrolet models had changed to 1970), that parts like starters and related for Corvettes did change to 1970 pieces. I don't know that happened, but it's possible. Nothing in the AIM related to this issue indicates that, though.