Since I upgraded to the larger flywheel and bellhousing a bought the 11" flywheel cover from Rick's. I got my hands on a starter with the stagered bolt pattern to fit the 168 tooth flywheel. Now my problem. The opening to fit the starter though is to small. Why is it the smaller cover has the larger D shape hole while the larger cover doesnt? Does this mean I got the wrong starter still or the wrong cover?

Let's see??

You need a staggered bolt pattern starter's bellhousing vertical cover!!

It will fit fine! As well as a small, cast-iron nosed staggered bolt h-d starter..

My '67 350SS engine came with a h-d starter on it b/c when it went south, I took it to the parts place and told them that this is what I needed!!

Turned out it was a 350SS/427 and later 454 type h-d starter!!

And you can tell a h-d starter from a light duty, regular one by looking at the copper tube field coil spacer that has the little screw/bolt run through it to the Solenoid. If it is like say 3/4" to maybe 1" long, then you have a stock h-d starter!!!

This just means that the field coils inside case are bigger/longer so that they can produce MORE torque to turn the motor over!!

pdq67