Hi. I don't have much automotive experience, but I'm attempting to get my 68 Camaro back on the road after a 15 year storage period. So far, I have removed the heads checked and cleaned everything, reassembled everything (with the help of DennyW regarding my distributor), and I am at the start up stage now.
Here's the problem. The engine cranks over no problem for awhile, but then the starter makes a horrible grinding sound. If I loosen the starter and then retighten it again, it will be okay for a little longer and then the same problem comes back.
I assumed the teeth on the starter gear were worn, so I put a new starter in, but the problem remains. I have inspected the flywheel and it isn't missing teeth and doesn't look worn. A neighbor mentioned that the starter may need to be shimmed, so I have tried to add various sizes of shims with little success.
The engine and tranny were rebuilt, with a new flywheel, before I took it off the road (it has just over 4000 miles on it).
The engine has fired up a couple of times, but dies before I can adjust the timing or carb, when I go to fire it up again the starter eventually screws up.
I feel I'm really close to getting it going, but am really frustrated. If anybody has any ideas, I would love to hear them. Thanks.