Thread: Trying to find the right starter

Tweet

Originally Posted by aworkinprogress

its the staggered 2 bolt pattern on mine, so does that mean its not the starter that is causing my issue? or is it possible to have to do a hybrid starter like you sometimes have to do with distributors?

If you have the staggered bolt starter and are trying to use on a 153 teeth flex plate, it will be too far away from the starter to engage the teeth. Here's a suggestion. If you don't have it off, remove the torque converter dust cover. Remove the solenoid from the starter. This will allow you to move the starter drive in and out manually. Install the starter. You should be able to see the drive and flex plate. Now, pull the plunger forward until the drive gear is meshed with the flex plate teeth. You should be able to slip a straightened paper clip between the teeth. If you can't, add shims until it just slips in. If the paper clip is loose between the teeth (too much clearance) remove shims. Follow me?

Bob

Thanks everyone for the advice, I'll be able to work on it this afternoon and report back

Guess what ya'll.... I am having the same exact problem with a 500hp 406 I just built. I bought a powermaster gear reduction starter and I still have a nasty grinding noise. Upon further inspection, i found that without any shims, the starter gear is too far away. I must have the wrong flywheel. The engine is internally balanced as opposed to the stock configuration-external. The mounting bolts are staggered. 1977 509 block. I am going to a different flywheel.