Starter Grinds

[skysoldier173rd]

my starter makes a terrible noise about half the time when starting the engine. Appears not engaging properly sometimes. I took it off when i did the engine transplant into the old truck. The motor/trans is a 350/700r4 out of a late 80s gmc now in a 60 GMC. It worked fine when i removed it and I don't recall any shims. Ever since reinstalling it , i've had this problem. I'm wondering if it needs some shims and where. As it is, something will be stripped soon if I don't address the problem, either the ring gear or the starter. Any suggestions?

[notrailerqueens]

chunk some shims at it and see if that fixes the problem

[TopFuel1966]

Straighten out the end of a paperclip and use it to check the clearance between the drive gear and the ring gear. Adjust with shims accordingly.

[Rich 5150 69]

Ditto with topfuel, put shims on outside mount on starter to kick it in towards the flexplate ring.

[blackmopar]

when i got my truck the main prob the girlie had before sellin it was chewin thru starters - i concluded her boyfriend was getting parts store starters specd for a 64 instead of the 68 tooth flywheel on the motor swap that they needed - i went to a mini universal and shimmed properly using above paperclip guage and alls been unicorns and rainbows ever since - if your having random problemnow, check flywheel all 360, you might have a flat spot somewhere