Need some help on new project

[sid pileski]

A friend of mine, that I do some work for, recently picked up a Chevy 235 Ci straight six cut away model that was probably used in show rooms so show case the new engine when it came out.

He would like to have an electric motor added to it to turn it over. (I did the same thing to a Harley cut away that he has).

It has a flywheel/ring gear that I'd like to apply the motor to.

The question is, does anyone know if you can just buy a starter gear somewhere?
I don't now of any rebuild shops around me anymore.
I haven't tried walking into Napa and asking them yet. I'm not even sure when the 235 was available.
I wonder if the teeth on the ring gear are the same today? In that case, I could probably just harvest one from a junk yard.

More research to do, but maybe one of you are familiar with Chevy's? (I'm a Ford guy!)

Thanks, Sid

[JoeLee]

Doubtful you would ever find just a pinion gear. They were never sold separately. You might be able to buy a Bendix drive and take the gear off of it.
Or look around for an old starter from a junkyard.

JL.....

[tom_d]

Junk yard item. I would first hit the internet, and maybe a few parts stores, and do a little research on part number interchanging to see what starters fit that engine. Probably quite a few that will drop right in. A complete starter will place the gear in proper position. Modify the motor end as needed to accept your low speed motor and send us some photos. Sounds like a fun project.

[sid pileski]

Joe, that’s really what I want. I figured I would have to take a bendix apart. Not sure if a “modern” starter (350) gear would work.
That I probably can find at pick n pull.
Sid

[JoeLee]

Joe, that’s really what I want. I figured I would have to take a bendix apart. Not sure if a “modern” starter (350) gear would work.
That I probably can find at pick n pull.
Sid

Modern fly wheels are probably a lot smaller in dia. Doubtful that the teeth would mash.

JL.....

[macona]

Go to a local auto machine shop. They probably have an old starter or pinion laying around. Or pick up a starter rebuild kit.

[Bented]

It is a gear, measure the tooth profile and purchase a gear of similar profile in the PD required.
It is a display not an actual working engine, the loads will be minimal.

Rush Gears hosts a useful spur gear search app, enter the relevant data of pitch, number of teeth, pressure angle and so on. 2D and 3D CAD drawings are generated as well.
Buy gear.
https://www.rushgears.com/tech-tools/part-search/build-custom-gears

This may cost actual money however.

[oxford]

Sid, I am not an expert on these and I’m not sure there will be a difference in starter gears but I believe the 235 went from 6v systems to a 12v system with the 12v having more teeth on the flywheel.

1955 may have been the change over to 12v with 1954 still being 6v.

Get the number of teeth on the flywheel and start googling from there.

On edit, have your friend pull some casting numbers if there are any. The early versions of these would be referred to as a “stove bolt six” with the 235 being basically the same as the earlier 216.

If memory serves me correctly, there was a version 2 (or 3) of the 235. I don’t know how much if anything it shared with the earlier engine. This version engine would have been in the 60s.

[Willy]

Sid I've had my share of 216/235/261 cars and trucks over the years and can say that it is a bit of a convoluted mess at best as to starter drive and flywheel regarding number of teeth and pitch depending on year of production, I think that they spanned two decades, '42-'62.
Never had any issues sourcing parts, though you may need to broaden your typical search parameters a bit, lots of stuff still available.

Rather than type out a long dissertation on the peculiarities of the old stove bolt six I'll leave a link with those details.
Good luck on the project....LOVE those old cutaway engines!

http://devestechnet.com/Home/Flywheel

[JRouche]

A friend of mine, just harvest one from a junk yard.

More research to do, but maybe one of you are familiar with Chevy's? (I'm a Ford guy!)

Thanks, Sid

Sorry Mr. Sid. I am a ford guy also. Oh, and Ill build a nice Hemi or Chevy.

Just the way it is. JR