Starter confusion?

I'm trying to get the right info on a new starter for a 67 mustang with an 87 model 5.0 I want to put a powermaster mini starter on it but I am running into some questions. This car has a toploader 4 speed.When you look up the starter for a 4speed 67 with a 289 it calls for a starter with 3/8" offset a model 9504.When I measured the actual offset on the car it is about 3/4" which would indicate a starter for a five speed tranny or an automatic. Starter model 9503 should fit. I pulled the tranny out to change the throwout bearing because it would start to squeal after the car warmed up.when you mash the clutch pedal the noise will stop for a while until the car is completely hot then it becomes a constant squeal. when inspecting the throwout bearing it seems fine with hardly any wear and it doesnt seem dry.My questin is this .Is an 87 model engine and flywheel for a 5 speed work with this 4 speed? Is there anything else to check for the squeal?

southern63gal wrote: "Is there anything else to check for the squeal?"

Yes ... sounds to me like possibly the snout of the input shaft is binding in the pilot bushing especially once things are up to temp.

Realize when the clutch is depressed the crank shaft (of the motor) and the input (on the tranny) are turning at different rates ... thus the squeal.

Just a thought from where I sit.

I encountered that exact problem on the Mach1 after the 460 swap. I installed a pilot bearing rather than the typical bronze bushing ... problem gone.

If the squeal exists without depressing the clutch then this would not be the problem I wouldn't think.

I am doing the exact set up in my 68. I have a 87 302 (347) and a top loader. I was wondering what starter I was going to need. I was told my old started I used with my C4 would work. So, what starter did work for you? Thanks in advance.

I had to use the starter for the 87 engine. In 87 both the automatic and the 5 speed used the same starter. The correct offset is 3/4". Measure from the mounting base for the starter to the engine side of the flywheel.

What year is the bellhousing and is your flywheel a 157 or 164 tooth? 28 or 50oz?

Sorry Southern, I didn't mean to steal your post. You did bring up a great topic that will help me.

My bell housing is the original 1970 that came with my particular toploader. The flywheel that came with the 87 engine is a 50oz as is the harmonic balancer. I'm not sure of the tooth count. Is there a diameter measurement that will tell if it is 157 or 164 other than having to count the teeth?

Originally Posted by dacofa

What year is the bellhousing and is your flywheel a 157 or 164 tooth? 28 or 50oz?

I dont know about the year of the bellhousing. I couldnt find any numbers on it. The flywheel is a 157 tooth. With 3/4" offset. Being as a toploader was an early tranny I would think that they all came with a 3/8" offset flywheel. I have looked everything over and I cant see where anything was binding as far as the throwout bearing and clutch fork are concerned. The clutch was working fine but as I said before when it warmed up there was a low pitch squeal coming from under the car. I crawled allunder there with a hose pipe using it as a stethascope. I could not definitely say where the noise is coming from but when you mash the clutch pedal the noise goes away.

Boy that sure does sound like it's the throwout bearing.

If the throw-out bearing is squealing then you need to increase the free travel in the pedal. It squeals because it is turning without a load. When you depress the pedal it loads the bearing and then the squeal stops. Add in enough free play to the point where the throw-out bearing stops turning.

PaulS I think you hit the nail on the head. Thanks for the help. Now on to the starter problem. The powermaster starter wont work because the motor hits the headers. It can be rotated but then it hits the steering center link. Any ideas on which mini starter will fit an 87 engine?