i want a k5 so bad. everything looks great man. i used to have a 71 ss Chevelle.

I was 18 and stupid and sold it though.

 

I still have my '70 Chevelle too!

 

Dont ever get rid of it!!

 

Dude!11 Where'd you get the mini-K5s?

 

Don't plan to. Besides, I don't think my wife would let me!
eBay!

 

So this morning I drove the K5 into the garage to get the drag link ends replaced. Other than starting hard, that was uneventful. Put the charger on the battery once in the garage & went to working on the drag link. Replaced the drag link ends in a little over 30 minutes. Went to start it up after getting the driver side wheel back on and it turns over, then there's a snap... After that it would only grind a bit. Get down under the truck and the nose of the starter has a huge, fresh crack in it.

So I mentioned it starting hard. I had suspected the starter for quite a while, but it has never left me stranded. It was on my list of things to replace at some point, but it looks like fate has forced me. I get it all apart and I'm glad it happened...

After removing the dust shield, I see that the inside is all beat up and get this... All 3 of the torque converter bolts are loose!! And two of the three are standard 3/8 course thread bolts. Only the last one was fine thread like its supposed to be...

Pull the starter and found what beat the heck out of the dust shield & what ultimately caused the nose of the starter to crack... A 3/8 course thread bolt. Just like the other two in the torque converter. Who ever had this thing apart last didn't have a clue what was supposed to go in there.

I'll shoot some pictures and post them later. Gotta run to the parts store & pick up new bolts/nuts & a new starter.

 

Glad you already had it at the garage when you found them. Makes you wonder what else was a half-job from the previous owner!

 

Wow...

 

Yeah, no kidding! I also tore out some wiring under the dash. I don't have a radio anymore, but it really didn't before so that's a moot point. The add-on wiring on the truck was a piece of work as well.

As of 11:45 it was back operational. Two of the torque converter bolts I removed by hand, no tools involved! The nuts weren't even self locking like they are supposed to be. Only one of them was actually holding. I'm surprised I did not get any weird chirping/etc from it.

Total for three new torque converter bolts & nuts was $7.73 and the new starter was $52.89 with a lifetime warranty.

Installed the torque converter bolts with some red Loctite. Shimmed the starter. Then started it up and took it for a spin. Started it 10 times in the driveway with no trouble. And the steering is nice & tight again!!

Here's the old starter & the offending bolt:

Its hard to see in those pictures, but the crack runs all the way from the nose back to the steel portion of the starter motor.

 

Holy cow. That may very well be the most damaged starter I've seen.