i have a 65 stang 289 4bbl 4speed T-10, while messing with the carb i screwed up the starter. so i went to the parts store, got a starter.. pulled the old one out. (jack stands on ground) was kind of a pain... put new starter in.... it wont fit... like i lined up the bolt holes, started the 2 bolts.. but the starter face will not go flush with the bellhousing, so i figured it was wrong.. returned it. went to another store and got another one... same thing... so i started tightening the bolts a little at a time trying to 'walk' it in.... totally snapped off a bolt ear on the starter.. cast aluminum crap.. so went to a 3rd store hoping to get another one that was slightly smaller... nope same thing... the old starter came out with very little effort. there was effort.. but very little.. i spent 7 hours today wrestling with that mother!!!! no luck... i tried to grind the ..um? steel gasket thingy that is clamped between the trans and eng that the starter goes through? the things made of freakin adamantium or some crap!!! killed my grinding stones with no progress... father in law wont let me grind the new starter.. but i think were outa options.

 

Are the starters you are buying the same part number as the old one?

 

yeah all the same number.. i measured the part thats not fitting on the old starter to the new starters.. the new starters are about 1/64th of an inch bigger,, its so close!! just wont go! i even tried to hammer the damn thing in with a mini sledge! its latterly 1/64th of an inch to big! can't really get a drill in the hole to do much grinding... im not sure if grinding the starter is what we need to be doing.... there was an engine code under the starter on the block. didnt 68 and newer 289's only have that? maybe this isnt a 289.

 

There were two starters for the 289/302/351 engines. Basically it depends on whether you're using a 157T or 164T wheel.

64½-67 260, 289, 302, manual with 157T flywheel, all C4 automatic, 68-73 289, 302, 351 with automatic Starter

68-73 289,302,351 manual trans with 164T flywheel Starter

 

Are you using AutoZone starters? If so, don't. They are more trouble than they are worth. Anything you can buy at AutoZone (or similar stores) besides oil becomes an exercise in frustration. The part will last 20% as long as a real Ford part.

 

well now im confused with teeth numbers? but i did however find out that the starter that went bad, was for an auto trans... by studding pictures of the man trans starter vs auto trans... but we have a T-10 4speed.... why did it have a starter for an auto trans in it? and now we can't fit a manual trans starter in our manual trans? when you say 2 starters do you mean 1 for auto and 1 for manual? do automatic and manual flywheels have a different number of teeth? but that wouldn't make sense.... clutch cant work with an auto trans flywheel... right? we just learned a few mins ago that our engine is actually dated 1967..... its a 65 car.. its a 289 for sure... and has the 1717 shelby 350 4bbl carb.... disc brake pedal but front drums... im so confused!! now im worried if we do get one to bolt in.. will the teeth be the same?!?!?!?!?!? supposedly the auto and manual trans starters both have 9 teeth per whatever..

 

Get a Ford starter for a 289 with a T-10. It will fit and you'll put this nightmare behind you.
Do you still have the original starter? Take it to the Ford dealer, or parts store that has Ford starters, and compare them.

 

low on funds unfortunately. and by the time the autozone starter craps out i wont have the car anymore anyway.. unless i can talk the owner down $$... should be able to now that the engine is not original.. but i went back to oriellys and got a starter for an automatic tranny.... thats what we pulled out.. a rebuilt auto trans starter.... maybe the bellhousing/engine spacer was from an auto car? i dont know... will try to put it in tomorrow

 

I understand the low funds problem. Good luck.

 

wtf... the auto trans starter went right in. and fired the engine with no hitch.. how is that even possible? do auto and the t-10's use the same bellhousing? maybe this was originally an auto car?.. well can't free clutch. starting new thread