MALIBU Starter and flywheel problems

[AllGbodies4life]

I have a 79 malibu that i put a 400 sbc in and ive replaced the flywheel and start once. Before i replaced the starter & flywheel it would start just fine then after a month with the new motor it would start grinding chewing up the flywheel.
After replacing the starter and flywheel it started just fine for a car cruise and car show and once again it's doing the same thing again.
I haven't tried to start it once it made the grinding sound cause i don't want to change the flywheel again. I could use the help on this one guys, I've put my heart and soul into this one and it hurts to have it sit and not mobile.
Thanks in advance.

 

[pontiacgp]

the starter and flywheel are not meshing properly.....what do the teeth on the flywheel look like

 

[vandyman]

The 153 or 168 flex plates have to be matched with the correct starter.

 

[bracketchev1221]

The 153 or 168 flex plates have to be matched with the correct starter.

You need to know what starter and flexplate the car has. The car factory had a 153 flexplate and starter, but the 400 stock is a 168 flexplate. When I had mine in the early 90's I had a 153 flexplate made with the counterweight for a 400.

 

[vandyman]

You need to know what starter and flexplate the car has. The car factory had a 153 flexplate and starter, but the 400 stock is a 168 flexplate. When I had mine in the early 90's I had a 153 flexplate made with the counterweight for a 400.

Exactly, but you have said it better.

Now if you have an after market hi torque starter, in most cases it will be interchangeable for either flex plate.
I use a MSD starter that works for both flex plates or flywheel.

 

[pontiacgp]

A starter positioned for the 158 tooth and a 168 flywheel is used the starter will not engage the teeth, it'll hit the flywheel, visa versa the starter will be sitting too far away to engage. I bet my money on he is not using starter bolts with a GM starter and the bolts are allowing to starter to move.

 

[vandyman]

A starter positioned for the 158 tooth and a 168 flywheel is used the starter will not engage the teeth, it'll hit the flywheel, visa versa the starter will be sitting too far away to engage. I bet my money on he is not using starter bolts with a GM starter and the bolts are allowing to starter to move.

Gotcha..
I was over thinking. [emoji848]

 

[565bbchevy]

I bet my money on he is not using starter bolts with a GM starter and the bolts are allowing to starter to move.

ARP also sells starter bolts with the knurl to locate the starter correctly.

 

[paul.m]

If you have confirmed that you have the correct flexplate and starter , and your still having problems you can check the distance of the flexplate and starter shaft, [ the shaft that your starter gear is on ] you should have 1/8 of a inch . If you do not you will need starter shims , usually between 20 and 60 thousands . You can use a drill bit to check, very easy. Without seeing flywheel very hard to tell, but sounds like the starter is engaging to far . The starter is not meant to fully engage the flexplate only 75 to 85 percent. And like the guy,s above have mentioned [ hardware store bolts dont work here ! ]

 

[pontiacgp]

looks like it another one retiring after 1 post...