I'm helping a friend with a SBC Fiero who lives in another country an hour away. So please bear with me if I don't know all the details.

He has an '86 Fiero with a SBC 305 in it with a dying/dead starter. The car has a 5-spd Getrag mounted on a "homemade" adapter plate of some sort. I have no idea what size the flywheel is.

I'm trying to order a starter for it without actually having seen the current starter myself. I don't know if the current starter has "staggered" mounting holes or "in-line" mounting holes.

Will a "universal" mini-starter of this variety work? An eBay blurb can be seen Here.



My concern is that although this starter can be configured to fit either a 153 or 168 tooth flywheel, it needs to be mounted on an engine block with "in-line" starter mounting holes. Is it safe to assume that the 305 engine block has been drilled and tapped at the factory for "staggered" and "in-line" mounting holes for the starter?

And is there any chance that the tranny adapter plate could interfere with the starter installation and/or starter function... or would that be rather unusual? (I have NO experience with SBC Fieros.)

Another related question on this "universal" starter while we're at it... The starter is advertised as being for a SBC and BBC, but would it also fit the Fiero 2.5 and 2.8 engines?

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 02-25-2013).]

First you need to have him take a picture of the starter mount/adapter plate and post it for us to see. It could easily have an Archie kit, or a Zumalt Style, or a custom one off.

Archie's kit use a mini SBC starter like the one you have shown, but the Zumalt kit uses a nissan starter and if it is a custom one off, then who knows what it could have.

I can't imagine any industrialized country not having a local shop that couldn't at least rebuild the starter, has he considered that.

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: First you need to have him take a picture of the starter mount/adapter plate and post it for us to see.

Pictures were taken yesterday. I'm just waiting for them now. I'll certainly post a few if they show what we need to see.

quote Originally posted by Joseph Upson: I can't imagine any industrialized country not having a local shop that couldn't at least rebuild the starter...

Well, it is a small town in Washington State... so I dunno.

Thanks for the responses, guys. I'll post again when I have some more info/pictures.

Post the pics. There are other methods to identify what kit he is using.

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: Post the pics. There are other methods to identify what kit he is using.

Okay, but you don't know what you're asking for.

Give me a few minutes to "massage" them a bit...

Uhh... no. But if the owner could measure the thickness of the adapter plate it would help determine if it's an Archie or Zumalt kit.

quote Originally posted by Bloozberry: Uhh... no.

Hey, I warned you guys!

quote Originally posted by Bloozberry: But if the owner could measure the thickness of the adapter plate it would help determine if it's an Archie or Zumalt kit.

Through the magic of the internet, I was able to find an old image of this Fiero's SBC installation. From looking at the actual car, I remember the adapter plate was quite thin. Is this of any help?

Looks like a Homebrew.

If it is then no telling wat kind of starter it is.

Archie

Yeah, it looks like a one off setup (non-standard adapter plate thickness as well as non-typical dogbone and torque strut). He will probably have take the starter off and take it to a shop to rebuild or pull the numbers off it to find a replacement.

X3. It's definitely not a Zumalt either. Time for a starter rebuild... they're really quite simple to rebuild as long as you can find the parts.

From my first post...

quote Originally posted by Patrick: The car has a 5-spd Getrag mounted on a "homemade" adapter plate of some sort.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback. However, you've confirmed my (worst) suspicions that the adapter plate itself may have a bearing on which starter has been installed.

I suspect I'll be going on a road trip across the line in the very near future (with tools).

Thought I would post again in this thread, not only to mention that it was just a loose wire to the solenoid/starter, but also to show the starter that's on this homebrew SBC installation. It appears to be bolted to the adapter plate (and not to the block).

How usual is it to notch the crossmember for the starter?

quote Originally posted by Patrick: How usual is it to notch the crossmember for the starter?

The notch for the starter isn't needed for either the Zumalt or Archie style kits. He likely didn't need it either if he would have spent more time determining the properly engine placement (front to back) and elevation.

Yea it looks like somebody took a swag at where the starter would be and got the cutting tools out..

quote Originally posted by fieroguru: He likely didn't need it either if he would have spent more time determining the properly engine placement (front to back) and elevation.

quote Originally posted by jaredmurray88: Yea it looks like somebody took a swag at where the starter would be and got the cutting tools out..

Yes, there certainly are some questionable modifications to this Fiero.

How's this for an engine mount. Although the mount does appear to be bolted to one side of the block, it also appears to be "snuggling" against the bottom of the oil pan.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 03-25-2013).]