So upon looking at the starter on my recent '82 purchase I notice that the long bolt is simply missing. No telling how long it hasn't been there.

Any ideas on where to find a replacement bolt by itself and any damage that might have been done while it hasn't been there?

 

junkyard?

 

Well I tried just using the lower smaller bolt to keep the starter in place and it seemed like it would work but eventually the vibration of the car made mine come loose. Thus resulted in terrible sounds of the engine attempting to turn over but really grinding the flywheel and starter drives and it of course wouldn't start up. I played it smart and got a long fully threaded bolt to go through the top, inserting it from the engine side to the transmission side.. in which the bottom bolt goes from the transmission side to the engine side, and used a nut to keep it tight. From that moment on, there is no terrible grinding sound, the engine starts up fine, and I no longer have to worry if the starter will dangle or even fall off the transmission bell housing while driving or when I try to start her up when I'm miles away from home.

 

In the Bayarea you have several PnPs where you can find a starter bolt. Try the PnP on Mowry in fremont, they have an old RX-7 in the back of the japanese car section.

 

Thanks for the replies on this. I guess I'll head over to pull-a-part here in GA and see if I can't pull the long bolt of off the 81 they've got on the lot. I don't really want to have to deal with a dangling starter unexpectedly..