Will a Ford OE starter fit a Shelby Aluminium Block?

[A98Coupe]

I'm pulling together a shopping list of parts I will need for my Shelby 427 stroker build. I will be re-using some of the parts from my iron Ford 427 SO motor, such as water pump, BT 2x4 intake, lakewood bellhousing, flywheel etc., but I've heard that the Ford OE starter motors won't fit the Shelby 427 block.

1) Is this true?

2) If so, why? Is the block side wall physically bigger than the Ford OE blocks?

3) Is there a good alternative starter which will fit the Shelby block, but can still function with the original remote starter switch which is mounted to the firewall? I still want to keep this for originality purposes.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[kanuck]

1 True

2 Will not fit due to they extra webbing

3 Any quality gear reduction or "mini" starter

4 You can still wire it with a solenoid aka remote starter

[razerwire]

Super Starter by TILTON on mine.

[RICK LAKE]

A98COUPE As for a starter, you will need s gear reducion one to work with a Shelby or do alot of grinding to get on to fit. I ran a tilon for 15 years, had to replace the drive one time. If you are running a lakewood bellhousing and motor plate only about 1/3 of the gears will contact each other.You need to remove the motor plate, and grind away back the the block opening flush and manbe trim a little more to give the correct depth for full engagement of the starter gear to the flywheel. You also need to make sure the bellhousing is centered on the block. A Quicktime bell housing may not need to have this centering done. Also depending on what trans you use, you may have to remove .380" of the trans input end going into the clutch and pilot bushing in the back of the crank with a lakewood. If this is not checked, the thurst bearing and block will be destroyed.
There are 3 bolts to hold starter in location and a pain to get too. I use allen head bolts and washers with a touch of blue loc-tite to keep them tight. The other way is to use a stud for the hidden back bolt. Getting a heat shield wouldn't hurt either. I have used this starter on a 452 and now stroker 482 with 10.0 compression. no problem cranking over when hot off the track.
Last thought, get an edelbrock aluminum water pump and save 7 pounds on the car. Just a thought. Rick L.

[A98Coupe]

Thanks for the replies. Looks like a Tilton Starter will do the job, but how much grinding (and where) is required to get the OE starter to fit? I already have one from my existing 427 SO, so I'd like to re-use if possible. Also, I like the look of the original starter.....the modern ones just don't look right in a Cobra.
Rick L. I have a Lakewood belhousing and 4 speed toploader gearbox. Can you send me some pics of the modification you had to make to the block plate?
Many thanks
Stuart

[RICK LAKE]

98ACOUPE Stu, Is the motor in the car? If it's on an motor stand this make this easy to do. In the car it's a pain. You have a top loader trans, so the length of the input is no problem. The .380" trim was for GM imput shafts in FE motors with lakewood housings.
The first thing is to clock the starter and get the starter soleniod away from the block. Next is to see if the starter is flat against the bellhousing surface. This is where a little grinding may be needed to clear the starter. Once the starter sits flat on the bell housing, You have 2 choices to either remove the starter mounting plate and have it machined down the thickness of the motor block plate. Reinstall. The other way is to mark the opening where the starter goes. Remove the bellhousing and plate and cut, grind, or saw off the extra metal. DON'T do this until the bell housing has been centered to the block!!! Again you will need to recheck the starter for clearance and to see it sits flush on bellhousing surface. It takes some time, but in the long run will save you replacing the bendix of the starter. Side note and this is hard to do, you want between .035-.055" of clearance with the stater engaged into the flywheel. Its the thickness of a paperclip. Need clutch to be off flywheel for this check. Again sorry for no pictures. Rick L.