Engine: starter bolts for '37Dictator

[tomlewis]

I have searched the old threads and know that this subject has been discussed fairly frequently. I saw the query in the latest "Turning Wheels" about starter bolts and thought that I would check the ones in my '37 Coupe-express. They are identified in the chassis parts manual as standard part # 1-0724 and described as a 7/16-14 X 1 1/2 bolt. Does anyone know the diameter and length of the special shoulder for this bolt? What I found when I looked in my truck were regular 7/16-14 bolts. These are very loose in the mounting holes of the starter when backed out. I got measurements of the mounting hole in the starter as high as .461 inches. I have plenty of grade 5 half inch bolts that I can machine down to spec. (And I enjoy doing it. I'd rather make them myself than buy them.)
The chassis parts manual didn't even show a bolt number for the starter bolts in the '37 President. I thought that maybe they would be the same as the 6-cylinder engine, so I took one out of my President and found that it was 3/8-16 X1 1/2. No help there! So, if I'm making starter bolts I need to make some for the President also. Does anyone have the specs for those bolts too? Thanks. Tom

[rkapteyn]

The number 1-0724 indicates a standard hardware bolt,
If the bolt was special it would have a six digit number.
The special bolts with the shoulders were only used on the later cars.
I believe but not sure that the earlier starters had a close fitting collar that centered the starter.
Oldtimers please confirm.
Robert Kapteyn

[tomlewis]

Thanks Bob. I went ahead and pulled the starter to make sure I was measuring the holes correctly. I didn't wiggle the starter around to see how well the whole thing fit in the big hole in the bell housing. The part number identifying the bolts as standard hardware confused me and the centering collar would then make sense. I did, however, take measurements and made myself some shoulder bolts before I read your post. I guess I was alarmed that the holes were almost 30 thousandths larger than the diameter of the bolts, and if Jim Pepper in his reply to the query in the cooperator, was concerned about a difference of about 7 thousandths, I figured I better do something.
,
Anyway, The bolts I finally made from grade 5 half inch bolts are 1.75 inches long with a shoulder length of .75 inches at .465 inches in diameter and one inch of 7/16-14 threads. They fit well, and while they might be overkill in light of your post, I feel better about it. Thanks again. Tom

[carl]

Hey tom....check your private messages