Hi JC,

I was lucky and saved the threads on the #5 flange this time. I have fought this battle on other vehicles and lost once on the #2 cylinder of my F100 with Heddman headers. A nut and bolt reside there now holding the header with Mr.Gasket soft copper gaskets. I am still deciding on what headers to use on the Galaxie, probably Sanderson or a set of 65 Ford FE cast iron shorties if they turn up. On the early Ford starters that engage the ring gear from the rear and are so darn heavy, I have a 57 Tbird 312 Yblock which the previous owner had starting problems with and wore some of the teeth on the ring gear on the back side. Sounded horrific when the starter turned. I used the PowerMaster for that and now the drive engages from the front and it is quiet. To get at the torque converter for ring gear replacement on the Tbird means taking out the engine. Can't get the trans out without removing both the engine and the trans at once. Saved a huge amount of work and cost. BTW, one of these mini starters brands has a mounting boss that is rotatable in order to move the bendix away from the block on certain applications.

Mark