What's the difference between starters for auto trans and manual trans?

[RangerX]

I'm wondering if there are obvious visual differences between a starter for an auto trans, and one for a manual. I remember hearing years ago that they are not interchangeable. Is it that they mount on opposite sides of the bell housing? Or do they fit into a different shaped opening?

I just got a new starter bought online, and it looks the same as my old one as far as I can see, but just thought I would ask and be sure before I bolt it up. It would not surprise me for them to send the wrong one...

 

[Explorin'VA]

They are almost identical but the teeth are different between auto and manual starters. I believe the manual flywheel has bigger teeth than the flexplate in an automatic.

 

[2stroke]

Hopefully you don't mind me kind of hijacking the thread, but one thing I have always wondered is if people run heavy flywheel/flexplates to help maintain low end power.

 

[the_don]

The only difference between the auto and manual starters is the gear in the auto starter sits about a 1/4 inch closer to the snout, i know it does not sound like much but i found out the hard way when i did the auto to manual trans swap, everything bolted up right but when i twisted the key the auto starter would not disengage form the manual flywheel.

 

[damnford]

i fixed a guys ford van. he put a manual starter in his auto van and it locked up the starter. i got a free 87 toyota pickup out of it