Starter help?

Yes, I have an 84 suburban with the same engine and the same problem. My problem went so far as to actually have new threads machined in the block and use a larger size bolt.

Anyway, on the rear end of the starter, you should have a mounting bracket, if it is not there, you will keep breaking bolts and grinding the flywheel. the guy who finally got mine figured explained it to me like this. Without that support bracket on the back end, the starter will bounce and move with every bump, this will put alot of stress on the 2 mounting bolt in a way they were not mean to handle stress, after a while, the bolt will simply sheer in half when you try to start.

I have the AC Delco gear reduction starter, and it works great, but you have to have that support bracket for the back end. If you put in Helli coils, make sure to use some washers or spacers on the bolts, we just heated and bent a piece of thick metal and matched up the holes on it to mount to the starter and to the hole for the bracket in the block, and you'll hear how good it sounds immediately after if you get that bracket on there. Hope this has helped.

NOTE:

Even grade 8 bolts will break with time if the support bracket is not there, trust me, it happend to the grade 8 bolts I used.

This engine requires a lot of torque from your starter to spin the engine over.Check to see if it has the stabilizing bracket on the end of the starter which would in turn bolt up to the block,this will give it extra support that Will help.Also make sure the engagement is smooth and noiseless when you turn it over.If it needs to be shimmed not doing so will put extra load on the mounting bolts.Also make sure the tensile strength of the bolts is right.Finally if your engine is not running properly and it kicks back while trying to start it have this problem resolved.Good luck

The tensile strength of the bolts you are using is not correct, goto your local parts store and explain to them what you have told us and ask for some stronger bolts.

get bolts from arp-bolts.com...u may have wrong number or theeth on flywheel for starter u r using!

Larmarin is 100% correct, you need that support bracket.

are you using grade 8 bolts ? is it shimed correctly ?