Starter issues!!!

[Supreme79]

forgive me if this post is missing a few details or jumbled but im rushing to go and work on the car now. in short, everything was fine before on my rebuild install but after i went to adjust the timing i cant seem to get the car to consistently start. when i had my timing perfect by ear it ran fine but still would grind on start, i shimmed the starter and retarded the timing and still grinding. im going to count the flywheel teeth today but i have the staggered bolt pattern starter. im sure my issue is in the timing mainly but when my timing is good i still have starting issues. new starter, 9.5:1 compression, trickflow 23* heads 195cc, 350 .060 over, flat top pistons, xtreme energy 274 cam, th350, 2400 stall, 373 gears. help

 

[pontiacgp]

I have never seen a starter that needed shims

 

[Supreme79]

I have never seen a starter that needed shims

I had to move it closer to the flywheel. The gears hung up on the flywheel and I noticed how far out it was

 

[pontiacgp]

you added shims to move it closer? Shims gives it more clearance

 

[Supreme79]

Half shim on outer bolt moves it closer. Have any useful advice Pontiacgp?

 

[pontiacgp]

not for a smartass...good luck

 

[Supreme79]

Wasn't being a smartass, just giving you the bit of info I know since you were wrong about it. Trust me I wouldn't disagree if I didn't know lol. That's why I'm asking for advice not to debate on who's right or wrong. Sorry you took it that way but thanks for the luck.. I'm gonna need it.

 

[pontiacgp]

well you said you shimmed the starter and that is what it says. If you said I shimmed one side of it then that means something else altogether. And I took this " Have any useful advice Pontiacgp?" as being very sarcastic but if I read that wrong then I'll withdraw the smartass comment and start from there...

If everything was working fine after the rebuild there would not be any need to shim the starter. If I have an issue after I have done something I go back to square 1 and do everything again and I usually find something I've done wrong. It could be the starter even if it is new, if you backed off the timing and it's still not turning over like it should I'd try another starter

 

[Supreme79]

i noticed that it will turn over good at times and at other times it wouldnt so i tried it twice and everytime it grinded i got underneath...got a few teeth worn in the flywheel 🙁

 

[pontiacgp]

I had a similar issue once, the nose of the starter was cracked and it ended up blowing apart...when you first started up the rebuilt engine a few times did the starter sound like it was engaging ok? And the flex plate is bolted in tight?