block is stamped 396021Fa its a 455, but I want to make sure I get the right year. I have no idea what it came out of...

thanks in advance everyone!

Mike

 

If you run a high torque mini starter you'll be glad you did.

 

like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OLDSMOBILE-R...febb04&vxp=mtr

?

 

If you have the starter from that engine, you might consider having it rebuilt locally.

 

I also run the mini starter and agree it is the way to go

 

again, thanks everyone!

I am not a super mechanic, I am capable of basic maintenance...maybe a bit more. so if y'all could look at the link above and make sure its the right starter I would like to try one of these bad boys!

 

The year of the block does not matter. Every 1964-1990 Olds V8 block has the same starter mounting provisions and accepts the same starters.

And since otherwise someone will ask, yes, even blocks from Toros.

 

haha, now thats a GREAT answer Joe. THANKS!

 

Joe got me to thinking when he mentioned Toronados - If you're not sure what the 455 came out of, and it did by chance come from a Toro, you might want to ditch the infamous 'Death Valley' Toro intake manifold in favor of a standard big block intake. This of course assumes the engine is not presently in, or going into a Toronado.

 

Your link says it does not fit tornados either and to "special order" another starter

 

What is your point? We're not talking about a Toro, where the starter bolts to the transmission bellhousing, NOT the block. Toros use the same BLOCK as other Oldsmobiles, but the starter mounting pad on the block is not used.

 

I'm asking why would you need to special order one for a toro then?

 

Scroll up and read post #11. The Toro transaxle occupies the space normally taken by the RWD starter. The Toro starter bolts to the bellhousing, not the block, and is on the passenger side, not the driver's side.

 

I tried a mini starter on my Toronado and it has ground the teeth off my Flex-plate. I am going to have to drop the transmission and install the original flexplate and go back with the original starter.

 

^^ Sounds like you need to shim your starter.

 

"I tried a mini starter on my Toronado"

So, you changed the nose piece to mate the Toro trans housing.

Please, elaborate.



"I'm asking why would you need to special order one for a toro then? "
======================
Because if it's not a FWD/Toro starter with a Toro/Motorhome nose, then the starter will bolt to the LH side of the block... where a Toro cannot have as starter.

In a Toro vehicle [no matter what engine] the starter must have the trans-mount nose piece.

In a RWD vehicle [no matter what engine] the run of the mill starter bolts to the block on the LH side, and so no special order is required. By far most common.

 

Thanks I was missing the whole FWD on the Toros

 

I looked for a mini starter for my Toronado and was told several would work but none did. So I finally talked to a guy at SNAP Racing Starters and was told it would work on Toronados. The fellow that put it on said it didnt need shimmed but it sounded awful when I would try to start it up. So I took it to another garage and they said it was shimmed correctly. It was only on for about maybe 40 starts and the flex-plate was toast.This starter was over 250 dollars. I just looked at the starter to get a name off it and it is covered with metal shavings.Sumthing wasnt right for sure. I have settled for the original with the cone tip that goes on the housing and attaches with 2 bolts. Does anyone know if there is another starter made that weighs in under 35 pounds. lol

 

Power master 9510 is light weight.As for if it will fit your toro ref back to what Joe said to do.

 

What year Toro? The early Toro starter for the TH425 trans is a flange mount. Shims for this starter, if they existed, would not change the pinion engagement one thousandth of an inch. The starter for the TH325 trans can be adjusted with shim.

RWD Olds Starter:



Early Toronado Starter (TH425 trans):



Late Toronado Starter (TH325 trans):

 

Mine is a 71.The early starter you show is the one that fits mine.

 

So back to my previous point. The design of the Toro starter for a TH425 CANNOT use shims to adjust the pinion position. If the "mechanic" who installed it actually did somehow shim it outward, THAT is the cause of your bad flexplate.