newbie/S3 starter bolt question.

[crackpot artist]

Hello alfabb. Intense lurker for a couple of months now. Sorry I haven't properly introduced myself yet.

My question is- on an S3 spider starter "special shoulder bolt", does the bolt head go towards rear or front? Or does the bolt go in through the starter first, towards the rear.

I installed in yesterday through the block towards the front, but after sleeping on it , that doesn't seem right. Shouldn't the shoulder go through the starter first? pointing aft?



thanks

[crackpot artist]

Ok, since I have some time i'll post this...

Hello. I'm a newbie to the AlfaBB, but have been lurking for a while.

Within the last 6 months i've purchased 2 alfas.
Project 1, a $3,000 1986 GTV6. Silver/black with 95K miles. My mechanic Richard Ott in Vallejo (alfeta motors) replaced the mid and rear exhaust, freshed some sensors, got it running great. I was working on making the bumpers nice. One week later I was having so much fun driving it, I snapped the timing belt. So, she's getting an unscheduled rebuilt. Oh well.

Project 2 is a dark gray $1500 S3 Spider Veloce. 95K miles, running when I got it.
License plate 2WAP...
The starter and alternator where bad, so I put it up on blocks and started to take things off. I've removed the seats and carpet, replaced both motor mounts & starter.
I'm going to replace as much bolt on stufff, hoses, etc., then register and take to a real mechanic.

My mechanical skills are more enthusiasm that talent. I know enuf to get me in trouble.

My background is in photography. index

Hot rods and kustoms mainly.

Past notable rides:

1928 Flathead powered Hiboy Ford roadster, (built at Vern Tardels, Santa Rosa)
1955 Buick Special
1959 MGA
1969 VW beetle
1969 MGBGT
1972 MG Midget
1977 Alfa Spider
1979 Triumph Spitfire
1965 Mercedes Benz 200seb
2001 VW Passat wagon 5-sp

Current rides:

1986 Alfa Romeo GTV6
1960 Chevy Brookwood wagon
1982 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce

I'll try to post progress pictures as they happen.

I will be seeking much advice on these projects, so thank you in advance!

Hope to see you on the road soon.

Great BB, btw.

Crackpot Artist

[JohnR156]

Hey Crackpot, you're fortunate to have come across Richard Ott. He's very generous with his knowledge and an asset to the Alfa community.

[Bob Sacamano]

I think you guessed wrong. The purpose of that bolt is to precisely position the starter, and the shouldered section of the bolt performs that task. From your picture, and just looking at an extra bolt I've got, it looks like it would be better to have the bolt the other way, so more of the shoulder is positioned both inside the starter nose and bellhousing. the way it is now, only a partial section of the shoulder will be inside the starter, while the remainder will be threaded. If it's not too much trouble, I'd reverse it, although it may be fine the way it is.

[crackpot artist]

thank you. exactly what i thought after my dream/revelation). And I felt so ingenious getting it in from behind, using a small c lamp. I found after replacing the sagging ps motor mount, getting bolts in was harder than getting out. firewall clearance. And yes, Richard is a god. I just hope I don't piss him off...

[crackpot artist]

ok Bob, one more set of questions. after reversing the center bolt position, I will assume I use a lock washer and nut on the other side. Do you know the sizes or the other 2 bolts? 8mm 1.000 finethread? And, finally for now, Do these go the same or opposite direction as the centerbolt?

[Bob Sacamano]

Don't know the size offhand of the other two bolts, but your guess is probably close enough. It's really the center bolt that's critical, and a nut/lockwasher is fine. As for orientation of the other two bolts, I've seen them both ways, and again, I don't think it's critical. I'm sure someone else will jump in if I'm wrong on that point.

[crackpot artist]

OK. So, I corrected the orientation of the shoulder bolt and it fits great now, just needed a little tap. I saw the IAP drawing of the item and it says the proper direction. It was there all along. Now, figure out how to put the rest of this serpent back together...