I went to fire my new motor and discovered the stater was too close to the flexplate to engage it. I am having a hard time setting up the clearance right. I tried to pull out the drive gear on the starter to where it would be at start so I could see how far it needed to be adjusted, but I can't get it to stay out so I can put it up in position and see how far off it is. I have tried 2 different shims 1/64th and 1/16th (just guessing) and tried to start it. Both times it started to engage then slipped. It seems like it is still slightly to close and starting to grab the edge of the the flexplate teeth then slipping off. This is on a 12.8:1 compression 383. I was thinking maybe the stock starter didn't have enough to turn it over, but if that was the case I would think it would just lug real slow (kind of like tring to start with a low battery). Anyone have any tricks on getting the clearance set in the car? (I know, I should have done it before I put the motor in.)

 

i had to change my starter twice now. but i never had any problems with it not engaging. i just bolted it on where it looked like it was supposed to go. but make sure you dont torque it down too much. the housing around the bendix gear broke on my first starter, so i had a big chunk of aluminum or whatever it is flying around by the flywheel. just a bit of advise.

 

Put a jumper wire between the BAT+cable and the small wire on the starter to see what it is doing.And don't put your hands around it,look only(don't leave it hooked up long at a time)Shim it until it engages.Is the flywheel the right one?Is the tooth count right?The starter should turn it with a hot battery,if everything is right.

 

"Is the flywheel the right one?Is the tooth count right?"

Its the stock flexplate.

 

Well, after trying every shim combination, checking grounds and battery voltage, and having the stater tested I am at a loss. It still will not engage. The starter gear has actually got stuck out a couple of times when trying to turn it over. The cleareance between the teeth looks fine though I can't figure out why it would stick. I could take a screwdriver and lightly wiggle the starter gear back and forth and it would pop back in. Is anyone using the stock starter on a 12:1+ compression engine. The starter tested slightly less than a new one odd the self.

 

After a thorough search I found my problem. I had the starter wired wrong. I had the small ground wire that goes on the block on the solinoid. After fixing that, it fired right up. Thanks to THEHEADFL for posting his fix awhile back.