I guess there is a first for everything. I will try to upload a pic.

Phil

I have a Cobra replica with a 427 Shelby aluminum block. It has a bellhousing (Lakewood I think) and a 184 tooth flywheel. The bellhousing was doweled and fixed in position by a prior owner. I have went through two ring gears and two starters. The cause is that the starters do not engage enough laterally. All the aftermarket starters have the same issue. The block plate is aligned to the same place the bellhousing is. I have attached a couple of pics. Any ideas on the cause? Is the bellhousing aligned improperly? Any thoughts on how to solve this problem? I am thinking it may be easiest to have a machine shop make a starter frame that fits properly. I am relatively confident the bellhousing is properly aligned.

Phil

Ok, so I pulled the starter and spark plugs and rotated the crank manually. The ring gear is good. Whew...

Now for the starter issue. I measured the gear engagement to the flywheel on the old starter and it is about 13 mm in (18 mm if measured from the block plate) and engages a total of 10 mm. Of course Robb MC makes a replacement, i.e same model 3001 with the nose all for $299. I however am not so sure I want the same one. It always seemed to strain. I am thinking I could get a CVR or other mini and mill the face of the mounting about 5 mm to get what I need. I just cannot believe Robb MCC is the only choice.

Seems this is an issue with early Shelby blocks. I am just so glad I have no flywheel damage.

Phil

Barry,

Can you elaborate a little on why the OEM type starters won't work on Shelby or Pond blocks? I am not aware of the block even coming into play as the starter bolts to the bell housing. Is there a different constraint (length?) in the block that drives that?

Phil

The Robb MC starter worked well but always sound a little strained. It would start when hot or cold and made no difference. Now it just sounds like grinding. I intend to pull the starter and send it back to Robb MC to diagnose, pull the plugs and rotate the engine to see if I have ring gear damage. Compression is 10:1. Cable size to the starter is 10 gauge.

I am hoping its just a bad starter.

Phil

Ok, so I am new here. I have an ERA Cobra replica with a Shelby 427 FE Aluminum block pushed out to 468 CID. I have had starter problems. It started with a CVR that was only engaging about 25% onto the flywheel. It chewed up a ring gear. I replaced that and went with a Robb MC starter that worked for a year. I now fear that the Robb MC starter did not have enough torque to last, even though it did for a year. I have a Lakewood Bellhousing.

I need some solid advice as to why the standard starters aren't engaging the flywheel far enough. I do have a block plate. Any advice of what starters you folks run and how they engage would be greatly appreciated. I attached a pic of the car for what its worth. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Phil