So today I am working on removing my broken starter bolt I am wondering why this happened? I have the brace and all the bolts are the fancy gm ones, starter had been installed for three years or so and in the last few weeks I must have broken the bolt. It is broken right where the threads start in the block, any helpful tips for getting it out?

Go see my thread from a wek ago called "Another broken starter bolt thread". Lots of good tips. most were about easy outs which I found didn't work. I ended up drilling out and re-tapping the hole.

was the nut on the stud that holds the brace to the front of the starter tight? the brace has a slotted hole, and unless that nut is tight it doesnt do squat.

Yeah the nut was tight, I ended up using a few radiators picks and some pb blaster and slowly worked it out.