I believe you are referring to these?


They are shims.

However, you have not convinced me you even need them. You never answered the question if it screeches or whines when you crank it.
I did however see where you wrote this:
If you have a problem with the starter staying engaged while the engine is running that is a problem. Either your ignition switch is hanging up. NOT LIKELY. Or the starter solenoid is hanging up. Most likely. That is not a problem with shims.

If the starter gear were hanging in the flex plate gear cause it had no clearance, you would have heard it when you cranked it. You never mentioned it.

If it were hanging out into the flywheel, you wouldn't likely have to beat on it to get it to crank. If you have to beat on it to start it, the starter needs to be replaced. They aren't likely to take it back with "beat" marks on the side of the starter.

The paper clip trick is the only way to go when shimming a starter. However, if your starter is the enclosed type with a nose cone. I don't think you can check those with a paper clip. At least I never figured out how to do it.

When ever I replaced a nose cone type starter. I always made sure to put the same shims the old starter had, with the new one. Never had an issue doing it that way.

 

When I start the car there is no screetch no sign of anything being "wrong". When I throw it into reverse the "noise" begins and you hear almost like a metallic fast paced clicking like something is touching but just barely. The old starter (factory one) had no shims it was cone shaped the new one has no cone.

When In drive you will hear it as well but not as consistent until taking off. And again the noise speeds up and slows down with the car.

As well when I first bought installed the starter, it was trying to turn the car over with the mufflers flooded with water and wasnt able to turn the engine till after the 3rd try, once I had turned the engine with a breaker bar...

 

You can try an experiment to see if the noise you hear is coming from the starter being engaged all the time or not. While the engine is making the noise you describe, turn the key to the start position just momentarily.

The open nosed starter should be checked with a paper clip as was mentioned much earlier.

 

Talked to jegs they sent out a replacement unit for a sale price they got going on. I'm going to have to get some gauges and measure everything out...I just hope when jegs bought this unit from cvr they didn't take a step down in quality. I'll post my findings with this new unit when I do it all by the book. Thanks everyone for the help, the pointers, and above all just any and all input is always helpful.

 

Here's a thought. Before you go to all the trouble of replacing the starter. Why don't you put the car up on ramps and start the engine and take a look at the starter gear to see if it is engaged with the flywheel or is retracted.

Seems to me you could be wasting your time just assuming the problem is the starter.

 

Ill go ahead and check that tomm (when the package gets here) and find out whats up with it, and let you know. If not this weekend 4 sure.

As well still going to put in the new unit. The one on the car had got locked up twice during trying to start the car and push all the water out of the exhaust. Ill measure all the clearances as I didnt do it before to be honest.

The best part is its on sale for 129.99 but I paid 149.99 so Ill be recieving a new starter and a few bucks

 

Out of curiousity (spelling?) too, if it is engaged speedy what should my next step be?

 

Check the gear clearance.

 

Okay so I checked out the old starter the clearance was like .9x something and .060 to .14x something is good (not sure if the decimals in right place bit it was within specs). The backlash which needs to be .025 I never got to check..

When I went to parts store n spoke with him about the noises in reverse and only when giving gas etc. I mentioned the transmission mount (which I also changed and the old one was hanging on by a loose bolt....) he said it may have allowed enough play to where the starter or flywheel was touching or rubbing something else (not necessarily the starter), when in certain gears movement etc.....??

The starter gear itself had NO visible damage. The flywheel had some slight shiny spots. As well out of curiosity I put a torque wrench to the mounting bolts on the starter and they were NOT at the 32 pounds I had to give both bolts a good turn or so.

I installed the new starter which is the same as the old JEGS 555-10001 it had the same clearances as the old one started up great drove the whole hour I had it on the highway and street no noises from the starter or tranny mount. The diff gasket I put in is leaking though what a waste of good synthetic oil