The missing snap ring is in between 2 x 10mm sockets and behind a 1/2” . :)

That snap ring is dead to me. :waffen093: O

Think I finally found what I need. The spring, retainers and snap ring are considered part of the "drive". The pic in the parts breakdown wasn't very good. It's considered NLA, but I found one here.
https://www.mercruiserparts.com/811896-drive

I like this route better anyway since I get a fresh set of teeth to chip.:D

get a better high quality gear reduced starter they are pricey but work awesome

Ive used IMI but find these are fraction of the cost and work just as well if not better .
https://www.rareelectrical.com/i-268...-8-2l-mie.html

maybe you can find the bottom mount like you got on that site ...

The Delco starter on port eng has worked flawlessly for at least 6 seasons now. Hot, cold doesn't matter. It spins the high compression BBC no problem. Hoping once I get new starter bolts and drive gear it will play nicely. When I first got the boat, the MSD distributors had broken springs and the weights were frozen at full adv. Timing light said 42 degs BTDC. Didn't detonate but starter wasn't happy abt it. Suspect this is what bent the starter bolts on the starboard eng.

Well, the high dollar ARP bolts arrived along with a new starter drive. Starter went back together fine. Got the ARP bolts out and test fitted in the starter. They are loose side-to-side. The knurling isn't stepped like the orig bolts. The knurled diameter measures 0.3805" from top to bottom on the ARP's. Gotta send them back. Also, orig bolts had 1/2" tall heads, the ARP heads looked small comparing them . They were a hair longer than orig too.

I wasn't able to find anything referencing the part# GM 22348064 mentioned by SB.

I did find Merc# 10-8053432 online and ordered a couple. You can see in the pics that the knurling is stepped. One site I was on said these are used when a starter brace is NOT used. (Mine has no starter brace) This makes we wonder if the starter bolt knurling is different depending of if the starter is supposed to use a brace or not???


Shipping is 10-12 days so I have some time for a couple of other bilge projects while eng is out.

Sorry, may have been a bad listing or bad cell phone typing?. :(
Try GM AcDelco 12338064
They are around $1.25 each thru gm.

Quoting 1 source:
“The Delco PG-series of starter motor had the aluminum nose-cone machined for larger bolts than the old-style 10-MT starter motors. As a result, THESE SPECIAL BOLTS are REQUIRED. Ordinary knurled starter bolts are NOT CORRECT for the new Permanent-magnet "mini-starters" from GM. The old starters, and the engine blocks they bolted to, use a 3/8 knurl. The new PG-series starters use a 10 mm knurl. These starter bolts have a STEPPED KNURL. The large part of the knurl fits the 10 mm starter housing, while the smaller, 3/8 knurl, and 3/8-16 threads fits the engine block. Using "ordinary" knurled starter bolts (even some advertised for "Mini Starters") will still allow the starter to move under load, as the knurl isn't big enough in the starter housing.”

Using the updated part number, I'm seeing the same thing,, metric starter vs SAE block. One site mentioned adding a small section of brass tubing to the starter portion of the knurling to take out the slop,, I'll pass on that.

Already plopped down $13 each. The Merc part does seem to be anodized so that's gotta be worth an extra $10 per bolt...:picard1:

Thx for following up on that SB. I'll buy you a beer if we ever cross paths!:drink:

Thanks
 

Thank you SB Great info. Everybody appreciates your knowledge.

Test fitted the new Merc starter bolts w/stepped knurling. They fit nice and snug in the starter. With bell-housing removed to allow access, used a set of cutting torch tip cleaners to measure gear mesh. They work great. They don't have thickness printed on them but a quick check with a set of calipers will tell ya. With new starter gear, gear mesh was over .065". Found spec online that says .020" to .065". Added .040" shim under outer bolt only. Now have .050" At 3 different locations of flywheel (120 degs apart). Starter sounds much happier now. Now to finish up the other bilge projects.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...b988a16eab.jpg
Cutting torch tip cleaners.