LUVTruck.com

The wifey called me at work ( I am currently working 4:30 pm to 2:15 am ) to say the Suburban won't start as she's leaving work. Even though this is depressing as ^%#$, I couldn't help but laugh as she's trying to describe the funny noise it's making. So I go to take a look when I got off as I can't stand the uncertainty, it's starter related. The Bendix is not engaging. So I take the handy trouble light that GM so thoughtfully provided for my use and look underneath. The starter FELL OFF! It's just hanging by the wiring on the A frame. So now I've got to find some bolts. And no, I've never replaced the starter, so I don't have any idea why it came off. I've only had the thing for 2 & 1/2 years...

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pranksters? there's no way 2(3) bolts just worked loose...

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-Old ride-82 Luv diesel 5spd with some upgrades
-Past rides-82 Sierra, 78 Coupe De'Ville, 91 2dr Blazer, 86 RX7, 86 Porsche 944T (rear-ended and totaled)
-Curr. rides- 1970 Ford LTD 4dr, 390 4Bbl, 2nd owner! With a few Extras 00' Civic beater...

LOL, At least it's a cheap fix!!

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72 luv v-8 owned since 16!
240" rear engine dragster
traded the circle track cars for a blown 496 chevy
[color=#FF8000]
29 dodge 4 dr sedan (project)
84 ranger 2wd "tuff truck" with 350 sbc

Sounds like someone was trying to steal your starter and got interrupted or couldn't get the cables loose.

If they did, they took the bolts. The lot is well lighted, fenced in, and camera controlled. Could be though...

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If the bolts were that loose I am pretty sure the starter would have bound while engaging the teeth on the flexplate. Sabotoge or a freak thing? Who steals a chevy starter these days? I just replaced the starter on my suburban a few months ago, and I discovered the bolts were loose, and it allowed the starter to bind the bendix enough it put more drag on the motor, and eventualy burned the windings. It was like this for quite sometime, but ive never heard of a starter falling off the block like that, seems strange.

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LUV Truck Desserter!
76 Daily driver (SOLD)
73 LUV (rusting away at the moment)
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63 Nova
74 Camaro

I have to agree with DJewett on this one.
I have had all sorts of nuts and bolts loosen up under duress and vibration. The liklihood of your starter bolts loosening up to the extent of falling out without forewarning (grinding,etc.) is almost impossible.

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"You can't please everyone,so you've got to please yourself"

I think it came loose on it's own. I remember now that around Christmas I found a starter bolt in the drive right in front of my LUV, and i thought it was something I had been using for a mock up that got kicked around. The tranny dust cover is pretty tight and i think that is what saved it all this time as it held the nose in place. Crap like this apparently only happens to me...

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Nope, you aren't the only one that crap happens to!!!

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Life is a DRAG RACE!!!
I like my Luv WILD!!!

Sometimes too much to drink isn't enough!!
Kinky is using a feather. Perverted is using the whole chicken.
http://www.wildluvracing.com

Well it wasn't that simple. Both of the bolts broke off in the block. And those suckers are hard. I've managed to get 1 out so far...

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I broke one off last year in my dually. I used a left handed drill bit and it came right out. But it wasn't in there forever. Good luck getting the other bolt out.

_________________
Life is a DRAG RACE!!!
I like my Luv WILD!!!

Sometimes too much to drink isn't enough!!
Kinky is using a feather. Perverted is using the whole chicken.
http://www.wildluvracing.com

if you have to you could try the candle trick. drill it, tap the easy out in, put some heat on the block around the bolt (a propane torch WILL work its real slow tho) then stick a candle to it and the wax will floe up into the threads and help lube them up.

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I like my steak like I like my women, young, tender and bloody.

All I need is my weed, women, and wine. -Edge City Outlaws

Well, I learned something new about a sbc. If you drill too far, you hit a water jacket. I tapped the hole after the water stopped draining, cut partially through a bolt and tightened it up until the bolt broke' so it would be below the starter mounting surface. I did this because the block has the stagger bolt pattern as well as the straight across. It was the rear bolt, so no problem . Yeah right. I had a factory steel nosed starter with the 3 bolt pattern. The bolt pattern isn't the same. So I go get a straight pattern starter, all of those are for the small flywheel, mine is the large. So, I put on a racing starter I had lying around. It was toast. No one local had one in stock, so I ordered one that was guaranteed to fit. I said, are you sure. Positive. You guessed it, it was the wrong one. So desperate by this time, I yanked the one off my LUV and SUCCESS! On the downside, I had my LUV ready to go just before Christmas, but I've robbed both batteries and the starter...

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Can't you just swap the noses on the two different starters so you end up with the right bolt pattern and the right gear drive for your flywheel?

Just a thought...

Man you are really having a shitty week. But I feel your pain. I have weeks like the too.

_________________
Life is a DRAG RACE!!!
I like my Luv WILD!!!

Sometimes too much to drink isn't enough!!
Kinky is using a feather. Perverted is using the whole chicken.
http://www.wildluvracing.com

Me too...brother...me too....lol

Hang in there.

Yes, but in my case the mounting hole is no longer available, so the stocker is out...

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If you think no one cares, try missing a couple of payments...



FIAA!

SFPP!

I used to have an old ex-girlfriend like that years ago...lol