1979 400 W72 Starter Motor date code

[Maxthe222]

Hiya gang,

Before I plunge into completely restoring the starter motor i've got with my F/A (nice and expensive with the work required for this drowned motor), I wanted to check to see if it's the correct date and part number coded starter. The only thing I have been able to find is Wallace Racing (http://www.wallaceracing.com/starter-numbers.htm ) saying the code should be 1108759 for approximately 1975-77 starters. Nothing about any starters for anything past this date however. Maybe it's like the W72 block thing where no 400 blocks were made after November 1977? IDK, the best reliable source of information is definitely these forums so why not ask the experts.

[Hoodshaker]

>Not an expert< but I do have an opinion and a couple of data points. First, the opinion-I agree that the starters were likely attached tot the engines already when the engines were mothballed in '77, so a 1977 date code like the one you have should be in the ballpark.

That part number, however, gives me pause. Here's why-

-While I wasn't paying attention to the numbers on it when I restored mine and I can't make them out in the pictures I have here, I did look at my build sheet and Box 30 lists "Start Motor 759". This is consistent with Wallace racing suggesting 1108759 to be the correct part number. For reference my car is an early '79 MY W72 out of Norwood. One of the ones that shipped without the air dam due to supplier issues.

I couldn't find any references to the part number on your case being originally paired with a Pontiac 400. And of course the rebuilder houses know many of the cases and nose cones are interchangeable, and they swap them around without a second thought.

If you have your build sheet, check box 30 and I think the 3 digits there will tell you whether you have the right case (part number) or not. Like i said, date wise, I'd be comfortable with something in '77 which is when the engines were assembled. 

[Maxthe222]

Ohhhhhhhh that's very interesting! Now I do have two buildsheet from the F/A, but... I think box 30 is terminated. I will look into buildsheets from other 1979 W72's, that may be the only good lead i've had! Maybe you are an expert because you are the only one who's mentioned that box code!

[pancho400cid]

Unless you KNOW the starter has never been replaced, it's quite possible that somewhere in the past somebody put a rebuilt starter from a parts store on it.  No telling what you'd end up with in terms of case stamping.