/6 starter and torque converter

[crispy]

Hello, I’m new to this forum, although I’ve read countless threads. I’ve been rebuilding the slant six in my 1966 Coronet Wagon this winter. I decided to wait and have the transmission rebuilt later this year,but I replaced the torque converter. Long story short, the converter I bought locally was wrong so I bought a NOS converter off the internet. Seemed like everything matched up fine, so I used it. Motor and trans installed and ready to turn over. No such luck. My starter won’t mesh with the ring gear. My rear gear has 148 teeth and starter is 10 teeth. From what I read that’s my problem.
Rather than replacing the converter, does anyone know where I can get a 9 tooth starter? I’ve done a little research, but not sure exactly what to look for.
Thanks for any help.
Crispy

 

[khryslerkid]

Welcome Crispy!

Member @Slantsixdan would have the answers. He hasn't been on here since November. I think he's on FABO ?

Anyway hit the Welcome Wagon and make sure you post us some pictures of your wagon!

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Hey Crispy, do some research on your starter issue. From what I remember, there are only TWO mopar starters. One is for everything from a slant-six to most hemi's & the other oddball is a hemi-only (maybe 68-69?) straight tooth starter or something like that???

Bottom line is that I think you have the wrong torque converter, not starter. The good news is that you don't HAVE to change the torque converter (might want to anyway since it doesn't appear to be the correct one, but I'm not sure). Mopars have a "ring gear" which is removable from the torque converter. Bad news is the transmission would have to come back out.

Check with some slant six experts first though.

 

[Photon440]

Hi Crispy, welcome

Is your Coronet built in the USA? Canadian built versions up to that year needed a Prestolite direct drive starter, for example. Australian sixes used the 148/9 combo too, which is why they sell mini starters to fit this need. But they aren't cheap. https://www.hemiperformance.com.au/...r-2-5hp-9-tooth-suit-148-tooth-ring-gear.html

 

[crispy]

That starter looks like just what I need. If I can get the correct starter I’d rather do that than pull the transmission. I’m also having a heck of time finding the 122 tooth ring gear tc. If I knew where to get one that’d help me weigh both options.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Hi Crispy, welcome

Is your Coronet built in the USA? Canadian built versions up to that year needed a Prestolite direct drive starter, for example. Australian sixes used the 148/9 combo too, which is why they sell mini starters to fit this need. But they aren't cheap. https://www.hemiperformance.com.au/...r-2-5hp-9-tooth-suit-148-tooth-ring-gear.html

Is that starter being shipping from Au. If so shipping will kill ya $$$.

 

[crispy]

I’m going to find out the shipping costs. I’ve had stuff shipped from there before and isn’t to bad.

 

[crispy]

After some thought I gave AutoZone a call and talked to the manager. I gave him all the info I thought he needed to call his supplier. He called me back a few minutes ago and the supplier may have the correct torque converter, which is being FedEx’d. I’ll pick it up tomorrow.
Should I have talked to the manager a couple weeks or so ago when I found the one they sold me was wrong... yes, would’ve saved me a bunch of trouble. In my defense, I didn’t have all the tc knowledge I have now at the time.
If it’s the right tc, I’ll post the part number and price (very reasonable) tomorrow.
Thanks for all your feedback!
crispy

 

[crispy]

I picked up the Auto Zone torque converter,
which is a Dacco 403 price $90. It matches the stock specs I need for my Coronet.
I got the transmission back in and took a couple test, no more than a mile each. I’m getting a burning clutch smell and smoke coming from inspection cover. Also a small amount of trans fluid drips on garage floor. I’ll be giving a trans shop a call tomorrow.

 

[Fran Blacker]

If you took trans out and left the convertor on engine the front seal and pump bushing could be damaged.

 

[crispy]

No, I had the tc on the trans when I installed it. It does sound like the seal and or bushing may be damaged, but I didn’t have any trouble getting the trans in. Maybe I installed the wrong seal?

 

[Slantsixdan]

Yes, the 148-tooth ring gear means you'd need a 9-tooth starter. No, it doesn't belong on a US-market '66 Slant-6. It will be an expensive nuisance, one way or another, to get a 9-tooth starter. It should not be difficult or costly to get the correct torque converter (with the correct ring gear) in quality worth buying; you might check with these folks, though they're far from the only outfit that can competently build a torque converter.

Maybe your NOS converter you bought can be saved. What exactly is it? How was it described, where'd you get it, and what part number does it carry? The 122-tooth ring gear is still available as a service part (Sonnax № SRG-122T — has to be ordered from Sonnax, which is a major supplier to transmission and torque converter rebuilders all over North America); a competent shop could remove the 148-tooth ring gear and install the 122-tooth ring gear.

(You're a brave man entrusting your blood, sweat, dollars, and car to the piss-poor parts sold by Autozone. Seriously, they're fine for windshield washer fluid, name-brand oil when it's on sale, and stuff like that, but actual working parts? None for me, thanks; I'm driving.)

 

[Fran Blacker]

Wonder if you could get a 9 tooth bendix and just change that?

 

[Slantsixdan]

There is no 9-tooth starter drive ("Bendix") to fit the Chrysler gear-reduction starter.

However, it looks like a suitable 9-tooth Chrysler starter can be had for a lot less money than last time I looked. The one you'd need is this one. So you could combine this starter and the 148-tooth torque converter and have a setup that works correctly. That is assuming the 148-tooth torque converter is correct in all other respects.

 

[Fran Blacker]

Thought I'd ask. Suck to have odd ball stuff. Like ford engine families this doesn't fit that.

 

[crispy]

Thank you for the responses and wealth of good information. I don’t mind the Autozone parts much, I’ve had good luck over the years and if there’s any issues they don’t hesitate to resolve them.
I ended up taking my wagon in to a transmission rebuilder, since I was planning on doing that someday anyways. I just got it back yesterday after a couple weeks at their shop. All seems good with the transmission and my engine rebuild. I stayed with the oe torque converter by the way.
Thanks again!
crispy